THE LAST DAY!

For everyone, there will be a final day when life will come to an end. Although the circumstances for our departure may differ, the fact of our departure is certain. On that day, we will face judgment before the Lord Jesus Christ. There is the last day for the individual and the last day for the world at large when Jesus shall appear in the sky with his angels. 

Regarding the last day for an individual, Hebrews 9: 27 says and just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment. Every mortal will die one day, and we must be ready. No one knows his final day on earth except the Lord. Regarding the end of the world, Matthew 16: 27 says for the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. The world certainly will have an end, whether we die first or Jesus appears in the sky.

A picture on the last day

Regarding the end of the world when Jesus appears, Matthew 24: 31 says And he (Christ Jesus) will send out his angels with a loud trumpet-call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another. On the last day, Matthew 25: 32-33 say all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

From Matthew 25: 34-46, scripture says the Lord will reward those on his right with eternal life for their faithfulness but punish those on his left with eternal punishment for their disobedience. Jesus likened the last day to the harvest time. He said in Matthew 13: 30… at the harvest time I will tell the reapers, collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn. 

Jesus described the last day (end of the age) in Matthew 13: 49… the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Evil is simply acting contrary to God’s will. The last day will therefore be a day of joy for the righteous but a day of sorrow for sinners. On the last day, we will not be judged in our mortal bodies but our souls, which are our real persons. How will our last day be like?

The body and the soul relationships

The body is a mere shell or tent within which the soul dwells. So, physical death affects only the body in decay but does not change the works of the soul or affects the soul in any way. The body will decay, but the souls will linger on to face judgment as the real you. It is the soul that makes us who we are. Jesus said in Matthew 10: 28; Luke 12: 4 do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. The body determines the destiny of the soul. 

Jesus said in John 6: 54, those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. All works are for the soul and not the flesh. David said in Psalms 25: 1 to you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. He also said in Psalms 56: 13 for you have delivered my soul from death. Jesus said in Luke 21: 19 by your endurance you will gain your souls. Jesus came to save our souls. James 1: 21 says… welcome with meekness the implanted word that has power to save your souls. 

How to prepare for the last day

The events of the last day may not allow us to repent, for it will be a day of surprise. We have enough time to prepare before it is too late. 1Thessalonians 5: 2 says, for you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 2Peter 3: 10 says, but the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Jesus said in Revelation 3: 3, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. We must immediately take steps against that day:

We must be always vigilant

Matthew 24: 42 says keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. We also do not know when we will be called home. There are many we started with who are no more. Paul says in Philippians 2: 12… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. This is a caution to us to work against eternal death but salvation in Christ Jesus as if we are racing against time.

Jesus said in Revelation 3: 11, I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. He also said in Revelation 22:12 See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to pay according to everyone’s work. He said in Revelation22: 7, I am coming soon; Blessed is the one who keeps the word of the prophecy of this book. Paul wrote in 2Timothy 4: 7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Are we vigilant against the last day?

Always live in Christ

Jesus said in John 6: 55 my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Jesus wants us to be one body with him, as he is with the Father in heaven. He said in John 15: 4-5 abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me, you can do nothing.

Jesus continued from John 15-6-7 whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. Jesus explained what abiding in him and him in us means in John 15: 10 if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandment and abide in his love. This is further explained in 1John 3: 24, all who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. 

Do the Father’s will

When Jesus’ parents found him after three days in the temple, he said in Luke 2: 49 “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Jesus sought to be in the presence of the Father, studying his will in order to perfect his works. 

Jesus said in Matthew 11: 29-30, take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. In effect, we must live for God through Christ Jesus, as he did. Jesus humbled himself and obeyed God at all times, hence he was without sin. Matthew 5: 48 says, be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Do we honour God’s will? Will we be joyful with praises, or sad in tears on the last day? 

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for reminding us of the inevitable last day, save our souls now, we pray, Amen!!

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