Your teenage daughter is scheduled to attend a weekend youth retreat, and her ride is coming at 1:00 o’clock on Friday afternoon. At 12:45, you find her relaxing on her bed scrolling her phone. You ask, “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the retreat? You know Pastor Rick is always on time.”

Living in light of an approaching deadline is not just a problem for teenagers. The New Testament mentions it in light of the return of Christ. The apostle Peter calls end-time events “the day of God,” and he asks a most important question: “What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” in light of the imminent return of Christ? Imminent means something could happen at any moment; it is the very next thing on the calendar. Prophetically speaking, the Rapture of the Church is imminent; it could happen today.

If you knew you would see Christ face-to-face later today, how would your life change? Live today as if the next person you see will be Jesus Himself.

How many Christians live their lives packed up and ready to go?
J. I. Packer