Prepare the Way: A Message That Still Echoes
An urgent cry echoes down from the days of John the Baptist, who proclaimed, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” ( Matthew 3:2 ). Just as John prepared the people for Jesus’ first coming, the Bible’s prophetic warnings call us to prepare for His imminent return. Now, more than ever, we must respond with urgency, resolve, and faith.
God's People Must Prepare
When John the Baptist burst onto the scene, he declared, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ( Matthew 3:3 ). His mission was clear: to call people away from sin and complacency, back to God. Jesus was coming!
John the Revelator issued a similar call for our time—one that immediately precedes Christ’s second coming. In Revelation, we hear a heavenly voice saying, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” ( Revelation 18:4 ). This plea to “come out of Babylon” warns us to turn away from spiritual corruption, false worship, and worldly compromise, preparing our hearts for the return of our King. Jesus is coming!
The Signs Are All Around Us
The signs of Jesus’ return are all around us, compelling us to take action. Jesus warned of “wars and rumours of wars… nation shall rise against nation” ( Matthew 24:6 – 7 ). Our newsfeeds are filled with stories of conflict and political tension, reminding us of His prophetic words.
He also spoke of “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” ( Matthew 24:7 ). Today’s disasters—illness, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes—strike with relentless force, pointing to a world in turmoil and the fulfillment of Christ’s words.
A Falling Away from Truth
The apostle Paul foretold a “falling away” ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3 )—a time of spiritual drift and moral confusion. We see this unfolding all around us. Many have drifted from the truth of God’s Word, seeking meaning in paths that cannot satisfy.
Paul warned, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” ( 2 Timothy 3:1 ). Our world is marked by selfishness, pleasure-seeking, and spiritual apathy. Hearts have grown cold, and deception abounds, just as Jesus warned: “Take heed that no man deceive you” ( Matthew 24:4 ).
The Gospel Goes Forward
Yet amid these warnings, we have this shining hope. Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” ( Matthew 24:14 ). Despite opposition, the message of salvation through Christ is reaching every corner of the globe. God’s promise is being fulfilled, and His return draws nearer.
Repent and Re-Commit
This is not a time for passive belief or half-hearted devotion. Jesus is coming! John the Baptist and John the Revelator both call us to repent and re-commit ourselves fully to Jesus. Repentance is more than a one-time act; it is a complete turning away from sin and a realignment of our hearts with God’s will.
Jesus declared, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” ( Matthew 4:17 ). True repentance requires humility, confession, and a determination to leave behind anything that separates us from God.
Radical Obedience to Christ
Re-committing to Christ means living a life of radical obedience, following Him with undivided hearts. “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” ( Luke 9:62 ).
Just as the Israelites were called to gaze upon the bronze serpent for healing ( Numbers 21:8–9 ), we are called to look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. When we behold Him—His love, sacrifice, and victory—our hearts are transformed, and our commitment is deepened.
He’s Not Just Coming—He’s Calling
The same Jesus who will return in glory is reaching for you with tender love today. His arms are open wide. He longs to heal your heart, restore your joy, and give you peace. No matter how far you’ve wandered, His mercy still flows, and His invitation is still open: “Come.”
Jesus Is Coming—Are You Ready?
The signs of Jesus’ soon return are unmistakable. Wars, disasters, moral confusion, spiritual deception, and the spread of the Gospel all testify that time is short. This is not a time to grow complacent or to blend in with a fallen world.
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” ( Revelation 3:11 ).
We must choose faith over fear, obedience over comfort, and conviction over compromise. Let us prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts, homes, and communities. Now is the time to repent, to separate ourselves from the corruption of “Babylon,” and to re-commit ourselves entirely to Jesus Christ.
His return is near. His love is real. And His call is clear.