Who Would You Call If You Knew Jesus Was Coming Back Tonight?

I wonder how the disciples interpreted what Jesus said. He told them that the end would come after the gospel had been preached to all the nations. They expected Him to come back for them at any time even though the gospel was hardly outside of Israel alone. They must have believed that they would be taken out before the gospel reached these other nations. Yet, how would they have seen all the things He had predicted if they were already gone. Still, I know, as they did, that Jesus could return right now.

The expectation of Jesus' return has been preached since I have been going to church. We sang songs which indicated that it could be at any time even though the gospel has still not reached all the peoples of the world. I was in Mongolia in the late nineties and hardly found anyone who had heard of Jesus. They had no idea who I was talking about. I am sure there are other people who have never heard of Jesus today.

I cannot say that Jesus will return today with certainty. I also can't say He won't. I do know that the gospel must continue to reach people. I believe God has already prepared these people to hear the gospel. I believe that many will be saved when they hear this good news. I know I have a responsibility in this.

Sometimes I don't think many Christians get it. They come to church, sing songs and even give some of their money but they don't really grasp the larger picture. They fail to understand that the Church exists to make disciples who will make disciples. The concept is not one of  "get saved and wait for heaven" but one of "get saved and bring others to heaven." They don't understand that some need to be teaching our children and preschoolers so that they can become disciples. They don't understand that Jesus didn't come just so that we might be able to tolerate this world and go to heaven. They think that faith is something that is used rather than something that is life changing. They don't know that all will change for them at the coming of the Lord. They don't have an urgency to get the gospel to everyone.

Who would you call if you knew Jesus was coming tonight? Who would you make an attempt to tell the gospel so that this person would join you in heaven? What would keep you from making that call? What's keeping you from making that call now?

Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)
⁴² "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.