by Greg Laurie
“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”
—James 2:26
For the sake of a point, let’s pretend that somehow we knew the day of Christ’s return. If that were the case, would you live any differently than you’re living right now?
If you were living sinfully, would you continue to live sinfully? If you were complacent as a Christian, would you kick it into gear? And if you weren’t a Christian, would you become one?
It was Martin Luther who said there were only two dates on his calendar: today and “that Day.” We don’t know when Jesus will return, but we always need to be ready and live in anticipation of it.
One day we will give our last words, our last statement. It could be in a hospital bed or some other place, and we won’t realize they are our last words.
And if we really believe there is a Heaven and a Hell, if we really believe that Jesus could come back in our lifetime, then it should impact the way we live. And if it doesn’t impact the way we live, then do we really believe it?
Why, then, would we not want to leave our comfort zone and engage someone with the gospel? We should take tangible steps if we believe these things are true.
Not only are we to anxiously await Christ’s return, but we are to work as well. Jesus said, “If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward” (Luke 12:43 NLT).
If watching is the evidence of faith, then working is the evidence of faith in action. The Bible tells us that “faith is dead without good works” (James 2:26 NLT).
Watching for the Lord’s return will help us prepare our own lives, but working will assure that we bring others with us.
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