First, there was a strange virus in China. Then, there were fires in Australia. Next,

swarms of locusts in Africa. After that, the virus became a global pandemic and there

were earthquakes in Utah and North Carolina, of all places.

That season was enough to make the phrase “the day of Christ” leap off the page to the

most casual reader of Philippians 1: 1-11. This probably happened during World War 2

following the Great Depression, which followed the Spanish Flu that took place after

World War I.

You see, no one knows when the “day of Christ” will happen. The prophecies on this

side of the event are confusing. We don’t know if it will be next week, next year, next

decade or the next millennium. We don’t need to know when it is.

But, we do need to live as if it could happen at any moment for at least two reasons:

First, living as if “the day of Christ” is soon keeps us from growing complacent in

carrying the gospel to others. Paul prayed, I always pray with joy because of your

partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that

he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of

Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:4-6).

Our work as believers is not complete until we are called home on that “day” or when we

pass over to the next life. Therefore, we are to keep working without giving up -- as if it

could happen any time. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at

the proper time if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9).

Second, today is the only chance those around us have to learn about Christ. They

need to know about Jesus before they pass away or before the day of Christ, whichever

happens first. It is up to us to tell the world. We need to live our lives with urgency.

Paul describes how we should live our lives in preparation for the day of Christ in verses

9- 11: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in

knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best

and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of

righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

One day, Jesus will come! Until then, live blameless and pure -- and with love tell the

world about him.

By LaRaine Rice



LaRaine is the wife of Jeff and mother of Christopher and Elizabeth.