The words, “Prepare to Meet Thy God,” were spoken by the prophet Amos to Israel. This was at a time when Israel was failing because their prosperity had blinded the people to the demands of justice and true worship required by God. Such failure will meet with God’s judgment. The words of the prophet can apply to any nation in Israel’s condition. It certainly applies to our nation and to us as individuals. The Scriptures tell us clearly Jesus is coming again to judge the unfaithful and reward the faithful. Jesus tells us in Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.” And in Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” There are three significant words to focus on when thinking about Christ’s return. They are Anticipation, Preparation, and Glorification.
Anticipation – The return of Christ for the Christian will be a happy event. When we anticipate a happy event and look forward to it with eagerness, it brings happiness before the event takes place. The Bible calls it a blessed hope in Titus 2:13, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20 talks about eagerly waiting for the Savior. The Bible also calls the Christians to “look up.” It’s a call to stop focusing on our insignificant individual circumstances and start focusing on Christ’s return and the magnitude of eternity.
Preparation – Anticipation leads to Preparation. When we approach an important event such as a wedding, we plan carefully for it. Meeting Christ is the most important event that will ever happen to us. Christ, the bridegroom, will receive the bride, the church. We don’t know the day or the hour, so it’s imperative that we live in a state of preparedness. The Bible tells us in II Peter to be diligent in our preparation. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25 emphasizes how necessary it is to be prepared.
Glorification – Glorification is the future and final work of God where He transforms the Christians’ mortal physical bodies to the eternal bodies in which we will dwell forever. Philippians 3:21 tells us our natural bodies will be fashioned like unto His glorious body. Jesus promised to take the saints to where He is in heaven. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
He is preparing a place for us. Are we anticipating and preparing for the glorious meeting when He returns?
John R Sensenig
Former Board Member at Heralds of Hope