Imagine, for just a moment, that God revealed something extraordinary to you.
Not through a dream.
Not through a YouTube video.
Not through someone claiming to have a prophecy.
Imagine you knew with absolute certainty that Jesus Christ would return exactly one week from today.
What would change?
Would you spend more time praying?
Would you finally open your Bible instead of letting it collect dust on the shelf?
Would you forgive someone you’ve been holding a grudge against?
Would you confess that hidden sin you’ve been excusing for months—or even years?
Would you make it a priority to tell your family, friends, and coworkers about Christ?
Would your calendar look different?
Would your priorities change?
Most of us would probably answer, “Yes.”
But that raises an uncomfortable question.
Why?
If we would suddenly become more committed to Christ simply because we knew He was returning next week, what does that say about the way we’re living today?
Jesus never told His followers to prepare only after they knew the date of His return. In fact, He taught the exact opposite. Throughout the Gospels, He repeatedly called His followers to stay awake, be watchful, and be ready—not because they would know the day, but because they wouldn’t.
Read through Jesus’ parables, and you’ll notice a common theme. The faithful servant continues serving while the master is away. The wise virgins keep their lamps ready. The servants entrusted with talents faithfully use what they’ve been given until their master returns.
In every case, readiness wasn’t about making last-minute changes. It was about living faithfully every day.
That’s an important distinction.
Sometimes we treat our relationship with God like a deadline. We assume there will always be more time to get serious about prayer, more time to overcome that recurring sin, more time to share the gospel, and more time to become the person Christ is calling us to be.
But Scripture never encourages that kind of thinking.
James reminds us that our lives are “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” None of us knows what tomorrow holds. Whether Christ returns next week or many years from now, the call remains the same: follow Him today.
The truth is, if you knew Jesus was returning next week, you probably wouldn’t care nearly as much about the things that consume so much of your attention right now.
Arguments on social media would seem less important.
The pursuit of money, status, and possessions would lose much of its appeal.
The inconveniences and frustrations that often steal our joy would suddenly seem very small.
Instead, our focus would shift toward the things that have eternal value: loving God, loving people, obeying His Word, serving others, and sharing the hope we have in Christ.
But here’s the beautiful part.
You don’t have to know that Jesus is returning next week to begin living that way.
In fact, that’s exactly what Jesus calls His followers to do.
Living in expectation of Christ’s return isn’t about fear. It isn’t about trying to predict dates. And it certainly isn’t about making dramatic changes at the last minute.
It’s about faithfully following Him today.
Not because we’re trying to earn His favor.
But because we already know the One who gave everything to redeem us.
So let me leave you with one final question.
If knowing Jesus was returning next week would change the way you live this week… what is stopping you from living that way today?
Perhaps the greatest purpose of biblical prophecy isn’t simply to teach us about future events.
Perhaps it’s to remind us to live every day as faithful followers of Jesus Christ—ready whenever He comes.