Preparing Now for Then
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of preparing our spiritual lives now in anticipation of Christ's imminent return.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the urgency of preparing for the second coming of Christ, noting that while many Christians believe in His return, fewer are actively expecting it. He warns that the current decline in anticipation may signify a critical moment for spiritual readiness, as we have limited time to prepare for eternity. Tozer stresses that failing to prepare for the future is a grave moral error, and nothing in this world should distract us from our spiritual growth. He calls for believers to take their spiritual lives seriously, recognizing the importance of being ready at all times for the Lord's return.
Text
. . . the Lord may soon return. I realize there is a lot that we do not know about prophecy, but most Christians are looking for the second coming of the Lord. They expect Him to come. They do not know when He will come, and the ones who claim they do, do not. Nevertheless, He may come in your lifetime. He said that He would come back in an hour when we think not. It could be that this present decline in expectation may have an ominous significance. It can easily be said that this would be the time when fewer people are expecting the Lord.
Thirty years ago everybody was expecting the Lord and talking about it. Now few are thinking and less are talking about it. If you press people, they will admit that they believe in the second coming of Christ, but they are not looking for it expectantly. The last thing that bears upon the imperativeness of doing something about our spiritual life now is that we have such a short time to prepare for such a long time. By that I mean we have now to prepare for then. We have an hour to prepare for eternity.
To fail to prepare is an act of moral folly. For anyone to have a day given to prepare, it is an act of inexcusable folly to let anything hinder that preparation. If we find ourselves in a spiritual rut, nothing in the world should hinder us. Nothing in this world is worth it. If we believe in eternity, if we believe in God, if we believe in the eternal existence of the soul, then there is nothing important enough to cause us to commit such an act of moral folly.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The expectation of the Lord's return
- Historical context of belief in the second coming
- Current decline in anticipation
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II
- The uncertainty of the timing of Christ's return
- The importance of being spiritually prepared
- The consequences of neglecting preparation
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III
- The urgency of our spiritual life
- The significance of our earthly actions
- The folly of allowing distractions
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IV
- The call to action for believers
- The necessity of a focused spiritual life
- The eternal perspective on time
Key Quotes
“To fail to prepare is an act of moral folly.” — A.W. Tozer
“We have now to prepare for then.” — A.W. Tozer
“Nothing in this world should hinder us.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Reflect on your current spiritual state and identify areas for growth.
- Prioritize your relationship with God above all worldly distractions.
- Engage in regular practices that cultivate a deeper faith and readiness for eternity.