Christ's Judgment

When Jesus commissioned His disciples to go forth in their work for Him He was basically telling them: “He who perseveres under stress and trials by abiding and remaining in Me will be saved.” In the last days, Jesus says that this will characterize those who are really His children. Thus, no matter what happens before or during the Great Tribulation—His true children will endure.

Jesus also said that the generation who sees His plan unfold for the end of days will witness His Second Coming. How can we best get ready for that momentous event? We need to have waiting hope for Christ's return. We need to have trusting hope for whatever is to come in our future. We need to have clinging hope in Jesus as our all-wise guide for daily life, and avoid whatever grieves Him. And through sheltering hope, we must resist fear, for Christ is our safe and secure eternal refuge. In summary, what we need to believe today is what Jesus taught: this world is not our home.

What should talk about heaven mean to us in the twenty-first century? Simply this: if the simultaneous increase in catastrophic storms, massive earthquakes, deadly pestilences, wars of terror, and looming threats from objects in outer space are indeed some of the “birth pangs” Christ spoke about, then meditating on heaven's glories can be very reassuring. Such thoughts in turn will promote waiting, trusting, clinging, sheltering hope—the hope that anchors—enduring hope!