Do Not Worry—What a Day That Will Be

Living in Christ’s Peace While We Wait to See Him

This morning, while I was walking and talking with the Lord, I asked Him a question I often ask:

“Lord, what do You want me to do today?”

As I continued walking, several thoughts came to mind. One was the beautiful Gospel song written by Jim Hill, “What a Day That Will Be.”

I have loved this song for many years. I become emotional whenever I think about its message because it directs my heart toward the day when I will finally see Jesus. The suffering, uncertainty, burdens, sickness, and separation of this present life will be over, and I will be forever with the One who saved me by His grace.

I do not know whether Jesus will return for His Church during my lifetime or whether He will first call me home through death. Either way, I know where I am going and whom I will see.

What a day that will be!

But the song was not the only thought that came to mind during my walk. I also remembered a dream I had approximately fifty-seven years ago—a dream I have never forgotten.

A Dream I Have Remembered for Fifty-Seven Years

The dream occurred during the early morning around sunrise.

In the first part of the dream, I was asleep on my left side. When I opened my eyes, I saw a person standing beside my bed, wearing a bright, shining garment.

I was not shocked or afraid. Somehow, within the dream, I believed that the person standing there was Jesus.

I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, my head was at the foot of the bed. Jesus was once again standing beside me, and this time I looked upward toward His face.

His hair appeared to reach just above His shoulders, and His hair and beard looked brownish. I could not make out the details of His face because there seemed to be a blur in front of it.

I also had the impression that angels were present in the room, although I did not actually see them.

Then I heard Jesus say:

“Do not worry. Everything will be alright.”

At the time, I was confused by those words. I do not remember being particularly worried about anything, so I did not understand why He would say that to me.

Yet I never forgot the dream—or its message.

What Can We Say About a Dream?

I want to be careful and honest about this experience.

I cannot prove that the dream was a direct message from God. I do not want to claim more than I know, nor would I ever place a personal dream on the same level as Scripture.

The Bible is our authority. Dreams, impressions, memories, experiences, and even the teachings of respected Christian leaders must always be examined in the light of God’s written Word.

However, the central message of this dream agrees with something Jesus has already told us plainly in Scripture:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.”
—Matthew 6:25

The value of the dream does not rest upon my ability to prove its origin. Its value is that, for approximately fifty-seven years, it has repeatedly brought my mind back to Christ’s established promise.

Jesus tells His followers not to live under the control of worry.

“Do Not Worry About Your Life”

In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus addressed concerns that touch almost every human life: food, clothing, physical needs, tomorrow, and the uncertainty of the future.

He pointed His listeners toward the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet the heavenly Father feeds them.

Jesus then directed their attention to the lilies of the field. They neither toil nor spin, yet God clothes them with beauty.

His message was not that people should refuse to work, plan, save, or act responsibly. Scripture teaches diligence, wisdom, stewardship, and preparation.

Jesus was warning us against allowing legitimate concerns to become controlling anxiety.

There is a difference between concern and worry.

Concern recognizes a problem and takes responsible action. Worry continually rehearses the problem while forgetting the presence and faithfulness of God.

Concern may lead us to pray, prepare, seek counsel, or make a wise decision. Worry causes us to imagine every possible disaster while carrying burdens God never asked us to carry.

Jesus asked:

“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
—Matthew 6:27

Worry feels active, but it accomplishes nothing. It cannot change yesterday, control tomorrow, or increase the faithfulness of God.

It only steals today’s peace.

God Already Knows What We Need

Jesus tells us:

“For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
—Matthew 6:32

That is one of the most comforting truths in this passage.

Our Father does not discover our needs after we tell Him. He already knows.

He knows what is happening in our homes.

He knows the condition of our health.

He knows our financial needs.

He knows the concerns we carry for our children and grandchildren.

He knows the condition of our nation and world.

He knows what will happen tomorrow.

He also knows exactly how He will sustain us through whatever comes.

Sometimes we may feel as though events are moving beyond anyone’s control. Yet nothing has moved beyond God’s knowledge, authority, or purpose.

We may be surprised, but He never is.

What Does “Everything Will Be Alright” Mean?

The words I heard in the dream—“Everything will be alright”—do not mean that nothing painful will ever happen.

Jesus never promised His followers a life without suffering.

Christians experience sickness, disappointment, rejection, financial difficulty, grief, persecution, and death. Faith does not make us immune to the sorrows of living in a fallen world.

“Everything will be alright” must therefore mean something deeper than “nothing unpleasant will happen.”

For the believer, it means that nothing can overturn God’s final purpose.

It means that suffering will not have the last word.

It means that death cannot separate us from Christ.

It means that evil will not triumph forever.

It means that Jesus will complete what He began in those who belong to Him.

It means that God can work even painful circumstances together for His purposes.

It means that our story does not end in a hospital room, cemetery, disaster, or troubled world.

Our story ends in the presence of Jesus.

Paul wrote:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
—Romans 8:28

Paul did not say that all things are good. Many things are grievous and wrong. But God remains sovereign over them and can weave even suffering into His redemptive purpose.

Looking at the World Without Losing Our Peace

As I look at the condition of the world today, I sometimes wonder whether that dream was one of the ways God began teaching me to live prepared—not by fearing what may happen, but by trusting Christ with whatever the future holds.

We see war, violence, deception, division, immorality, economic uncertainty, natural disasters, and increasing hostility toward biblical truth.

These things should concern us. Jesus instructed His followers to remain watchful and discerning.

But watchfulness is not the same as panic.

Being prepared does not mean being consumed by fear.

We can recognize that the world is troubled while remembering that God is still on His throne. We can watch prophetic events without allowing them to become more important to us than Jesus Himself.

Our hope is not built upon our ability to interpret every headline correctly. It rests upon the character and promises of Christ.

Jesus said:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
—John 14:1

He then promised that He was going to prepare a place for His followers and would come again to receive them to Himself.

That is our hope.

Ready—but Not Afraid

Christians should live ready for the Lord’s return.

But readiness is not terror.

Readiness means that we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ and are abiding in Him. It means we are confessing known sin, growing in grace, serving others, and faithfully completing what He has entrusted to us.

It means that we are not building our entire lives around a world that is passing away.

We should be prepared, but we should not be afraid.

We should be watchful, but we should not become obsessed with dates.

We should recognize the signs of a troubled world, but we should not let tomorrow’s uncertainty steal today’s peace.

Jesus said:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
—Matthew 6:34

God gives us grace for today.

When tomorrow becomes today, He will give us the grace needed for that day as well.

Whether Through Death or the Rapture

I look forward to the return of Jesus Christ. Scripture calls His appearing our “blessed hope.”

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
—Titus 2:13

Paul taught that the Lord will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will rise, and living believers will be caught up to meet Him.

He concluded:

“And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:17–18

Notice that Paul intended this teaching to produce comfort.

The return of Christ should awaken us, purify us, and motivate us to serve. But for those who belong to Jesus, it should also comfort us.

I do not know whether I will be among those living when Christ returns for His Church. I may first complete my earthly journey through death.

But either way, the destination is the same:

I will be with the Lord.

That is why death does not have to be the believer’s greatest fear.

Jesus has already conquered it.

The Day We Finally See Jesus

The message of “What a Day That Will Be” touches me so deeply because it gives expression to the believer’s longing to see Christ.

We speak about Heaven’s beauty, the New Jerusalem, the river of life, streets of gold, and the absence of pain and death. All these promises are glorious.

But the greatest joy of Heaven will not be its surroundings.

The greatest joy will be Jesus.

The One who loved us will be there.

The One who carried our sins to the cross will be there.

The One who forgave us, sustained us, corrected us, and walked with us through every trial will be there.

The One we have trusted without seeing will finally be before us.

John wrote:

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
—1 John 3:2

What a day that will be!

Seek First the Kingdom

After telling His followers not to worry, Jesus gave them something better upon which to focus:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
—Matthew 6:33

The answer to worry is not simply trying to stop thinking anxious thoughts. It is redirecting our hearts toward God and His Kingdom.

When worry says, “What if everything goes wrong?” faith asks, “What does God want me to do today?”

When worry says, “How will I control tomorrow?” faith says, “My Father is already there.”

When worry says, “I must protect everything I possess,” faith says, “Everything belongs to God, and I am His steward.”

When worry says, “The world is falling apart,” faith says, “Jesus Christ is coming to establish His righteous Kingdom.”

We do not overcome worry by pretending that difficulties are unreal. We overcome it by recognizing that God is greater than everything we face.

Bring Every Concern to God

Paul gives us practical instruction:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
—Philippians 4:6

When concern enters our hearts, we can turn it into prayer.

We can name the burden honestly before our Father. We can ask for His help, thank Him for His past faithfulness, and entrust the outcome to Him.

Paul continues:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:7

God’s peace does not always arrive because the situation immediately changes. Sometimes His peace guards us while the difficult situation remains.

That peace says:

“I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds me.”

“I do not understand everything God is doing, but I know His character.”

“I cannot control the world, but the world is not outside His control.”

A Message I Understand More Clearly Today

I still cannot explain everything about the dream I had approximately fifty-seven years ago.

I do not know why it came when it did. I do not know why the scene changed or why the face remained indistinct. I do not know whether the impression of angels was significant.

I do not want to build doctrine around details I cannot explain.

But I understand its central message more clearly today because that message is already written in God’s Word:

“Do not worry.”

The Father knows what we need.

Jesus has prepared a place for His people.

Christ will return according to the Father’s perfect time.

God will ultimately right every wrong.

Death will not have the final word.

Those who belong to Jesus will be with Him forever.

Therefore, I do not have to understand every event that may occur before Christ calls me home. I do not have to carry tomorrow’s burdens today.

My responsibility is to trust Him, seek His Kingdom, remain faithful, and complete the work He has placed before me.

What Is Troubling You Today?

Perhaps you are worried about your health.

Perhaps you are concerned about your family, finances, or future.

Perhaps the condition of the world causes you to wonder what will happen next.

Jesus is not condemning you for feeling concern. He is inviting you to bring that concern to your heavenly Father.

You do not have to pretend everything is easy.

You do not have to understand everything that is happening.

You do not have to know what tomorrow will bring.

But you can know this:

God is still sovereign.

Jesus is still faithful.

His promises have not changed.

His plan has not failed.

And everyone who belongs to Christ has a glorious future in His presence.

What a Day That Will Be

This morning I asked the Lord what He wanted me to do today. Perhaps He brought this song and this long-remembered dream to mind so that I would share a message someone needs to hear:

Do not worry. Trust Jesus. Everything surrendered to Him will ultimately be made right.

That does not mean the road ahead will contain no hardship. It means we will never travel it alone.

Whether Jesus returns during our lifetime or calls us home through death, one promise remains certain:

“And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

I still do not know everything tomorrow holds. But I know the One who is already there.

I do not know how every problem will be resolved. But I know that God’s final purpose will prevail.

I do not know the exact day I will see Jesus. But I know that day is coming.

And what a glorious day that will be.

 

BE Prepared: Seven Attitudes for Living in Light of Eternity

How Bible Prophecy Should Change the Way We Live Today

The heart of this lesson:

God did not reveal the future so that we would become spectators, date-setters, or debaters. He revealed it so that we would be ready, holy, thankful, patient, focused, faithful, and eternally invested.

A Strong Personal Introduction

I begin with my Boy Scout experience:

When I was about twelve years old, I joined the Boy Scouts in Des Arc, Arkanasas. The Scout motto was short and memorable: “Be Prepared.” I do not believe I realized then how deeply those words would affect me. Throughout my life, I have tried to think ahead, prepare for what may come, and avoid being caught unready.

Today, I realize that “Be Prepared” is also an appropriate motto for the Christian life. God has told us where history is going—not so that we can satisfy our curiosity, but so that we can prepare our hearts, order our lives, and help others prepare for eternity.

In today's YouTube teaching video, Dr. Barnett provided the seven-point outline. Still, my life experience and our continuing “BE Attitude” teaching provide the framework through which I  will explain it.

The Seven Prophetic “BE” Attitudes

1. The Rapture: BE Ready

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
—Matthew 24:44

Christ is coming. Whether He returns during our lifetime or calls us home through death, every believer should live ready to meet Him.

Being ready does not mean abandoning our responsibilities or continually searching for dates. It means belonging to Christ, abiding in Him, confessing known sin, and faithfully completing today’s assignment.

The Rapture should produce readiness—not speculation.

2. The Judgment Seat of Christ: BE Holy

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”
—2 Corinthians 5:10

The Judgment Seat does not determine whether a believer has earned salvation. Salvation was purchased completely by Jesus Christ.

It is an evaluation of how we used the life, opportunities, spiritual gifts, and resources He entrusted to us. Knowing that our works and motives will be examined should encourage holy conduct and sincere faithfulness.

The Judgment Seat should produce holiness—not terror or self-righteousness.

3. The Tribulation: BE Thankful

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial.”
—Revelation 3:10

Within the pretribulational understanding, believers are thankful that Christ will remove His Church before that coming hour of worldwide judgment.

We should acknowledge that sincere Christians interpret Revelation 3:10 and the timing of the Rapture differently. Some understand this promise as removal before the Tribulation, while others understand it as God preserving His people through trial.

Whatever position a believer holds, God’s protection and deliverance should produce gratitude rather than pride.

The Tribulation should make us thankful for God’s mercy and concerned for those who do not know Christ.

4. The Second Coming: BE Patient

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath.”
—Romans 12:19

We live in a world filled with injustice. People are abused, betrayed, falsely accused, persecuted, and seemingly forgotten.

We may wonder why God has not intervened. But Scripture assures us that Jesus sees every injustice. At His return, He will judge with perfect righteousness.

We do not need to carry the burden of personal vengeance. We can forgive, remain faithful, and entrust final justice to Christ.

The Second Coming should produce patience—because only Christ can perfectly right every wrong.

5. The Millennium: BE Focused

“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:4

Christ will establish His righteous rule and demonstrate what the world is like under the authority of its rightful King.

The Millennium will be a glorious restoration under Christ’s rule, but it will not yet be the final, eternal perfection. Mortal people will still live on earth, and a final rebellion will occur when Satan is released.

Complete perfection arrives with the New Heaven and New Earth.

A more precise wording would be:

BE Focused—Christ will establish His righteous Kingdom upon the earth.

Knowing that we may serve and reign with Christ gives purpose to our present stewardship.

The Millennium should focus us upon Christ’s Kingdom rather than our own temporary kingdoms.

6. The Great White Throne: BE Faithful

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
—Revelation 20:15

The Great White Throne is not the Judgment Seat of Christ. Believers’ service is evaluated at the Judgment Seat; the Great White Throne concerns the final judgment of the lost.

The practical message for Christians is urgent: point people toward Jesus while there is still time.

We cannot save anyone. We cannot force someone to believe. But we can pray, share the Gospel, demonstrate Christ’s love, and faithfully persuade people to be reconciled to God.

The Great White Throne should produce evangelistic faithfulness—not cold satisfaction that judgment is coming.

7. The New Heaven and New Earth: BE Investing

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
—Matthew 6:20

Everything we possess on earth is temporary, but a life invested in Christ’s Kingdom possesses eternal value.

We invest eternally when we use our time, abilities, finances, influence, and opportunities for God’s glory and the good of others.

We cannot take earthly possessions with us, but we can use them now in ways that will matter forever.

“The New Heaven and New Earth”: Revelation 21–22 describes God dwelling with His people in the renewed creation.

Our eternal home should inspire us to invest in what will never pass away.

The Complete Progression

The lesson gives believers an easily remembered response to the entire prophetic future:

• Rapture — BE Ready
• Judgment Seat — BE Holy
• Tribulation — BE Thankful
• Second Coming — BE Patient
• Millennium — BE Focused
• Great White Throne — BE Faithful
• New Heaven and New Earth — BE Investing

And one phrase gathers them all together:

BE Prepared.

This lesson is not really about memorizing seven future events. It is about answering seven present responsibilities.

The Rapture asks whether I am ready.

The Judgment Seat asks whether I am living faithfully.

The Tribulation reminds me to be grateful for God’s mercy.

The Second Coming asks whether I can trust Christ to right every wrong.

The Millennium asks whether I am focused upon His Kingdom.

The Great White Throne asks whether I am pointing people toward Christ.

The New Heaven and New Earth ask where I am investing my treasure.

I believe this could be one of our most memorable teachings because it brings together my “BE Attitude,” my lifelong “Be Prepared” motto, and the entire prophetic message of Scripture in one understandable lesson.

Excellent. That small revision keeps the lesson biblically precise: the Millennium will display Christ’s righteous restoration and rule, while complete perfection comes afterward in the New Heaven and New Earth.

My Boy Scout experience gives this teaching a deeply personal foundation. The motto “Be Prepared” has followed my since childhood, and now it connects naturally with my spiritual calling to help people prepare for eternity.

This lesson also beautifully expands my original “BE Attitude” message. It is no longer only “Be doers of the Word”; it now shows seven ways believers should be while awaiting everything Christ has promised.

A NOTE ABOUT THE ARTWORK:

The open Bible represents God’s Word as our guide, while the compass recalls the lasting influence of your childhood motto, “Be Prepared.” The radiant cross and eternal city keep Jesus Christ—and not the prophetic timeline—as the believer’s ultimate destination and hope.

 

What Manner of Persons Ought We to Be?

Living in Holy Conduct and Godliness as We Await Christ’s Return

The Apostle Peter asks one of the most important questions any believer could consider:

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.”
—2 Peter 3:11

Peter describes the coming Day of the Lord. He tells us that the present heavens and earth will not continue forever. Everything people presently consider permanent will one day be changed by the judgment and power of God.

Peter writes:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.”
—2 Peter 3:10

After revealing what will happen, Peter does not encourage his readers to construct a prophetic calendar. He does not tell them to calculate the date of Christ’s return or become consumed with speculation.

Instead, he asks a deeply personal question:

Knowing what is coming, what kind of people should we be right now?

Bible prophecy was not given merely to tell us what will happen in the future. It was given to transform the people we are becoming today.

Nothing in This World Is Permanent

We live as though the world around us will continue indefinitely.

People spend their lives acquiring property, possessions, recognition, influence, and financial security. We build houses, develop careers, accumulate savings, and make plans for many years into the future.

There is nothing inherently wrong with working, planning, saving, or enjoying the blessings God provides. Scripture commends wise stewardship.

The danger comes when temporary things become the foundation of our identity and hope.

Peter reminds us that everything in this present creation is temporary. The possessions we protect, the institutions we admire, the buildings we construct, and the accomplishments we celebrate will not remain forever.

This does not mean our lives are meaningless. It means we must invest our lives in what possesses eternal value.

Jesus expressed the same truth:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”
—Matthew 6:19

When we understand that the present world is passing away, we begin asking better questions.

Instead of asking, “How much can I accumulate?” we ask, “How much can I faithfully steward?”

Instead of asking, “How can I make people remember me?” we ask, “How can my life point people toward Jesus?”

Instead of asking, “How comfortable can I become?” we ask, “How obedient can I become?”

Instead of asking, “What can this world give me?” we ask, “What has Christ entrusted to me?”

What Does “Holy Conduct” Mean?

The word holy means being set apart for God.

Holy conduct is not a performance intended to impress other people. It is not religious pride, legalism, or pretending that we never struggle with sin.

Holy conduct means that because we belong to Christ, our lives should increasingly reflect that relationship.

Our beliefs should affect our behavior.

Our worship should influence our words.

Our hope of Christ’s return should shape our daily choices.

Holiness includes how we treat our families, conduct our business, manage our money, speak about others, respond to mistreatment, use our time, and behave when no one else is watching.

A person cannot sincerely say, “I am waiting for Jesus,” while knowingly living in rebellion against Him and refusing to repent.

The expectation of seeing Christ should create within us a desire for purity.

John wrote:

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
—1 John 3:3

We do not become holy to earn salvation. We pursue holiness because we have been saved and now belong to the Holy One.

What Is Godliness?

Holy conduct describes how we live. Godliness describes the Christ-centered character from which that life should flow.

Godliness is more than behaving properly in public. It is a growing awareness of God’s presence that affects our attitudes, motives, desires, and decisions.

A godly person increasingly desires to think as Christ thinks, love as Christ loves, forgive as Christ forgives, and serve as Christ serves.

Godliness is not produced by determination alone. It grows as we abide in Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us.

Jesus said:

“He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
—John 15:5

We cannot manufacture genuine godliness through human effort. We must remain close to Christ through prayer, Scripture, obedience, worship, repentance, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Godliness is not simply trying harder to appear religious. It is Christ’s life becoming increasingly visible through us.

Holy Without Becoming Self-Righteous

The call to holiness must never become a reason to consider ourselves superior to other people.

Self-righteousness says, “Look how much better I am than they are.”

True holiness says, “Apart from the grace of God, I would be lost.”

The closer we come to Christ, the more clearly we recognize both His holiness and our continuing need for grace.

A holy person should not become harsh, proud, or eager to condemn. Genuine holiness produces humility, compassion, patience, and love.

Jesus was perfectly holy, yet sinners who sincerely sought Him found mercy in His presence. He never approved of sin, but neither did He use truth to parade His superiority.

If our pursuit of holiness makes us proud, unkind, or dismissive of struggling people, something has gone wrong.

We should stand firmly for biblical truth while remembering that every victory in our lives is the result of God’s grace.

Watchful Without Becoming Fearful

Peter says the Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, “as a thief in the night.” That warning should awaken us, but it should not terrify those who belong to Christ.

Believers should be watchful without becoming fearful.

Our confidence does not rest in our ability to predict every prophetic event. It rests in the character and promises of Jesus.

Christ’s return will bring judgment upon evil, but it will also bring the fulfillment of our hope.

Peter writes:

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
—2 Peter 3:13

Imagine a world in which righteousness truly dwells.

There will be no corruption, deception, exploitation, violence, abuse, or hidden wickedness. Everything that presently grieves the heart of God will be gone.

For those who love Christ, the future is not something to dread. It is something to anticipate.

Expectant Without Becoming Idle

Some people become so interested in Christ’s return that they neglect their present responsibilities.

But biblical watchfulness does not mean staring into the sky while ignoring the work God has placed before us.

Jesus said:

“Occupy till I come.”
—Luke 19:13 KJV

We should live expectantly while remaining faithful to today’s assignments.

We should care for our families, serve our neighbors, help those in need, share the Gospel, use our spiritual gifts, and perform our work with integrity.

If we genuinely believe Jesus is returning, we should become more faithful—not less responsible.

Every day presents an opportunity to invest in something eternal.

The question is not merely, “When will Jesus return?”

The more immediate question is:

What does Jesus want me to do until He returns?

Diligent Without Trying to Earn Salvation

Peter continues:

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
—2 Peter 3:14

The words be diligent describe intentional effort. The Christian life is not passive. We are called to pursue obedience, resist temptation, renew our minds, and faithfully use what God has entrusted to us.

But diligence does not mean earning salvation.

Salvation is entirely God’s gift:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
—Ephesians 2:8

We do not obey so that Jesus might save us. We obey because He has saved us.

Grace does not make faithfulness unnecessary. Grace makes faithfulness possible.

The same grace that forgives us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age as we look for Christ’s appearing.

Our good works are not the price of salvation. They are the fruit of a life that belongs to Jesus.

What Does “Without Spot and Blameless” Mean?

Peter’s words may sound impossible. After all, every believer still struggles, stumbles, and needs God’s forgiveness.

Being found “without spot and blameless” does not mean that we achieve sinless perfection through our own effort. It describes a life of sincere devotion to Christ—one that is responsive to His correction and unwilling to make peace with known sin.

A blameless believer is not someone who has never failed. It is someone who refuses to hide from God when failure occurs.

Such a person confesses sin, receives forgiveness, makes necessary changes, and continues walking with Christ.

There is an important difference between struggling against sin and surrendering to it.

The believer who struggles may fall but returns to Jesus in repentance. The person who has surrendered to sin defends it, excuses it, and refuses Christ’s correction.

God is not asking us to pretend we have no weaknesses. He is asking us to bring those weaknesses into His light and allow Him to transform us.

Found by Him in Peace

Peter says we should be diligent to be found by Christ “in peace.”

This is especially beautiful.

A believer who anticipates Christ’s return does not have to live in constant panic, wondering whether one failure has caused God to abandon him.

Our peace rests first in what Jesus has accomplished for us:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
—Romans 5:1

Because we have peace with God through Christ, we can also pursue a peaceful life—one not dominated by bitterness, unresolved conflict, hidden rebellion, or continual spiritual confusion.

This does not mean every relationship will be peaceful. Other people may reject our efforts at reconciliation. But as much as it depends upon us, we should seek to live peaceably.

Imagine being found by Jesus faithfully doing what He asked you to do—trusting Him, serving others, walking in forgiveness, and resting in His grace.

That is very different from being found spiritually asleep, consumed with earthly distractions, or knowingly resisting His will.

God’s Delay Is an Opportunity for Salvation

Some people ask why Jesus has not returned already.

Peter explains:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
—2 Peter 3:9

What appears to us as delay is an expression of God’s patience.

Every additional day is another opportunity for someone to hear the Gospel, repent, and turn to Jesus Christ.

Peter later adds:

“And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.”
—2 Peter 3:15

This means we should not spend our remaining days merely watching prophetic events. We should help people prepare to meet Christ.

The world’s approaching judgment should produce compassion, not smugness.

We should not look at unbelievers and say, “They will receive what they deserve.” We should remember that we also deserved judgment, but Jesus showed us mercy.

The proper response to prophecy is evangelism.

If time is short and eternity is real, then people matter enormously.

Beware of Being Carried Away

Peter warns believers not to be led away by error:

“Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.”
—2 Peter 3:17

Living in the last days requires discernment.

Not every confident teacher is trustworthy. Not every popular message is biblical. Not every teaching filled with Scripture references explains those Scriptures accurately.

We must examine everything by the Word of God.

But discernment should not become cynicism. We should test teachings carefully without assuming that everyone who disagrees with us is an unbeliever.

Discernment asks, “Is this teaching faithful to Scripture?”

Pride announces, “Anyone who does not interpret everything as I do cannot belong to Christ.”

We need both truth and humility.

Continue Growing in Grace

Peter concludes his letter with this instruction:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
—2 Peter 3:18

That may be the simplest answer to Peter’s great question.

What manner of persons ought we to be?

We should be people who are continually growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

We have not arrived. God is still teaching us.

We should understand Scripture more clearly today than we did yesterday. We should become more gracious, discerning, obedient, humble, and faithful as Christ continues His work within us.

Spiritual growth does not mean we never have questions. Sometimes asking sincere questions is one of the ways God leads us into deeper understanding.

Growth occurs when we bring our questions to Scripture, remain teachable, and allow truth to change us.

Preparing for More Than a Destination

In our previous lesson, we considered what the “Well-Done” saints may be doing during Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.

That lesson revealed that believers are not merely being prepared to go somewhere. We are being prepared to serve Someone.

Today’s passage explains the kind of people we should be becoming as we await that future.

Christ is developing within us the faithfulness, humility, holiness, wisdom, and godly character appropriate for servants of His Kingdom.

Present obedience may be preparation for future responsibility.

The trials through which He carries us may be teaching us endurance.

The people He places around us may be teaching us compassion.

The resources He entrusts to us may be teaching us stewardship.

The unnoticed assignments He gives us may be teaching us faithfulness.

God is not wasting any part of the life surrendered to Him.

What Will Jesus Find?

One day Jesus will return, or our earthly lives will end and we will stand before Him.

On that day, our possessions, popularity, social position, and earthly achievements will not be our greatest concern.

The question will not be how successfully we built our own kingdoms.

The question will be whether we faithfully served His.

Peter’s question should therefore become personal:

If Jesus returned today, what kind of person would He find me becoming?

Would He find me growing in grace?

Would He find me abiding in Him?

Would He find me faithfully using what He entrusted to me?

Would He find me holding tightly to temporary possessions—or investing my life in eternal treasure?

Would He find me condemning the lost—or compassionately persuading them to be reconciled to God?

Would He find me spiritually awake—or distracted by the cares and pleasures of this world?

These questions are not intended to drive us into despair. They are meant to awaken us and draw us closer to Christ.

What Manner of Persons Ought We to Be?

Because this present world will not last forever, we should be people of eternal perspective.

Because Christ is returning, we should be watchful.

Because Jesus saved us by grace, we should be grateful.

Because He has called us to serve, we should be faithful.

Because He is holy, we should pursue holy conduct.

Because people are facing eternity, we should be compassionate.

Because false teaching exists, we should be discerning.

Because God is patient, we should help others come to repentance.

Because a New Heaven and New Earth are coming, we should not build our hope upon this present world.

Because we will see Jesus, we should desire to be found abiding in Him.

We do not know the date of Christ’s return, but we know how He wants us to live until He comes.

May we be found in peace—trusting His grace, walking in holy conduct and godliness, faithfully completing our assignments, and looking forward to the world in which righteousness dwells.

Bible prophecy is not merely about determining what will happen someday. It is about deciding what manner of people we ought to be today.

 

What Will the “Well-Done” Saints Do During the Millennium?

Faithful Today—Reigning With Christ Tomorrow

Most Christians have heard something about Heaven. Many have also heard that Jesus will return and establish His Kingdom. Yet there is a question we seldom hear discussed:

What will faithful believers actually be doing during the thousand-year reign of Christ?

Will we simply rest and observe what Jesus is doing? Will we spend the Millennium continually singing? Or will Christ give His faithful servants meaningful responsibilities in His Kingdom?

The Bible does not answer every question we might ask about this remarkable period, but it reveals far more than many believers realize.

The answer is both exciting and sobering:

The “Well-Done” saints will not spend the Millennium sitting idly and admiring their rewards. They will worship, serve, and reign with Jesus Christ, carrying out responsibilities entrusted to them by the King.

We are not simply being prepared to go somewhere. We are being prepared to serve Someone.

What Is the Millennium?

The word Millennium means “one thousand years.” Revelation Chapter 20 describes a future period during which Satan will be bound and Jesus Christ will reign.

“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:4

Revelation continues:

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:6

In the premillennial understanding followed in this lesson, Jesus will return before the Millennium and establish His righteous rule upon the earth.

Christ will not be campaigning for office, negotiating with corrupt leaders, or struggling to maintain authority. He will return as the rightful King of kings and Lord of lords.

His government will not be weakened by dishonesty, selfish ambition, injustice, or human incompetence. The One who knows every heart will rule with perfect righteousness.

Who Will Be Living During the Millennium?

This subject requires us to make an important distinction.

According to the premillennial understanding, there will be at least two kinds of people present during Christ’s earthly Kingdom:

1. Resurrected and glorified believers

These are believers who have received glorified bodies. They will no longer experience disease, aging, temptation, or death as we presently do. They will reign with Christ and serve under His authority.

2. People living in natural, mortal bodies

People who survive the judgments surrounding Christ’s return and belong to Him will enter the Kingdom in natural bodies. They will continue living on earth, forming families and having children.

The prophetic descriptions of the Kingdom include nations, homes, agriculture, children, long life, work, worship, and peaceful living. Isaiah writes:

“They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”
—Isaiah 65:21

The glorified saints and the earth’s mortal inhabitants will therefore not be in exactly the same condition.

Scripture does not give us a detailed organizational chart explaining every relationship between these groups. However, it is reasonable to understand that Christ’s glorified servants will help administer His righteous government among the nations and peoples living on the earth.

We must be careful to distinguish between what Scripture states explicitly and what we reasonably conclude from its promises.

What Will the “Well-Done” Saints Be Doing?

They Will Reign With Christ

The clearest answer comes directly from Revelation:

“They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
—Revelation 20:6

The saints will not rule independently of Jesus. They will not establish personal kingdoms or compete with one another for recognition.

Christ alone will be the supreme King.

Any authority given to His saints will be delegated authority. They will carry out His will, represent His character, and administer His righteous decisions.

This will be leadership without selfish ambition.

It will be authority without corruption.

It will be government without deception.

It will be service without exhaustion.

Every decision will be made under the perfect leadership of Jesus Christ.

They Will Receive Responsibilities According to Their Faithfulness

In the Parable of the Minas, Jesus described a nobleman who entrusted resources to his servants before departing to receive a kingdom. When he returned, he examined what each servant had done.

To one faithful servant, the master said:

“Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.”
—Luke 19:17

Another faithful servant was given authority over five cities.

We should not force every detail of a parable into a prophetic timetable. Nevertheless, the principle is clear: faithfulness with present responsibilities prepares a servant for greater responsibilities in the future.

The reward was not merely a possession. The reward included an assignment.

The faithful servant was not given a comfortable chair and told that his service was finished. He was entrusted with greater responsibility in the master’s kingdom.

Jesus expressed the same principle in the Parable of the Talents:

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
—Matthew 25:21

The words “Well done” may not be merely the conclusion of our earthly service. They may also be Christ’s introduction to our future service.

They Will Participate in Righteous Government

Jesus promised:

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.”
—Revelation 2:26

Paul also asked the Corinthian believers:

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”
—1 Corinthians 6:2

The word judge can include more than determining guilt in a courtroom. It may also carry the sense of governing, administering justice, making decisions, and helping maintain righteous order.

Some saints may be entrusted with leadership over cities or communities. Others may receive responsibilities involving teaching, administration, worship, justice, or service.

We should not pretend to know everyone’s individual assignment. God has not revealed that information. However, Scripture does establish the broader truth that the saints will participate in Christ’s rule.

They Will Serve as Priests of God and Christ

Revelation 20:6 says that the saints will be “priests of God and of Christ.”

This does not mean that Christ’s sacrifice will ever need to be repeated. Jesus offered Himself once for all, and His sacrifice is eternally sufficient.

Priestly service in the Kingdom points toward holiness, worship, devotion, and service in God’s presence. Those who reign with Christ will also worship and serve Him.

In our present world, religious service and political authority are frequently corrupted by human pride. During Christ’s Kingdom, worship and leadership will be brought together under His perfect righteousness.

Those serving Him will reflect His truth, justice, holiness, mercy, and love.

They May Help Teach and Guide the Nations

Isaiah describes a time when people from many nations will seek instruction from the Lord:

“For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
—Isaiah 2:3

Christ will be the ultimate source of truth and instruction. His glorified servants may participate in teaching and helping the Kingdom’s mortal inhabitants understand and obey His righteous ways.

This is a reasonable inference rather than a detailed biblical job description. Scripture clearly says the saints will reign and serve, but it does not explain every daily responsibility involved in that service.

God has told us enough to awaken our hope without satisfying every curiosity.

How Does the Judgment Seat of Christ Relate to This?

Salvation is not earned by faithful service.

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
—Ephesians 2:8

But the following verse reminds us that salvation has a purpose:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
—Ephesians 2:10

Our salvation and our rewards must never be confused.

Salvation concerns whether we belong to Christ. Rewards concern what we faithfully did with the life, opportunities, abilities, and resources He entrusted to us.

Paul explained:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body.”
—2 Corinthians 5:10

The Judgment Seat of Christ is not about believers purchasing salvation with good works. Jesus has already paid completely for our salvation.

It is an evaluation of stewardship.

Our works and motives will be tested. That which was done through dependence upon Christ and for His glory will endure. That which was empty, selfish, or worthless will be burned away.

In the premillennial framework, the rewards Christ gives His servants may include responsibilities during His coming Kingdom.

This means the Judgment Seat is not merely about receiving crowns. It may also be about receiving assignments.

Rewards May Be Responsibilities, Not Merely Decorations

When we imagine heavenly rewards, we may picture crowns, treasures, or trophies displayed for admiration. Scripture does use the language of crowns and rewards, but those rewards ultimately return glory to Christ.

Biblical rewards also appear to involve opportunities for greater service.

Jesus connected faithfulness over “a few things” with being made ruler “over many things.” He connected faithful stewardship of a mina with authority over cities.

The greatest reward may not be possessing something. It may be hearing Jesus say:

“I can trust you with more.”

That changes how we view everyday faithfulness.

The world may never notice the believer who quietly serves another person, gives generously, resists temptation, shares the Gospel, teaches Scripture, encourages someone who is suffering, or faithfully completes an unnoticed assignment.

But Jesus notices.

He sees:

• Every truth faithfully shared
• Every person encouraged
• Every prayer offered in faith
• Every temptation resisted
• Every act of kindness performed in His name
• Every resource used for His Kingdom
• Every hardship endured without abandoning Him
• Every spiritual gift used for the benefit of others
• Every assignment completed when no one was applauding

Nothing done faithfully for Christ is insignificant.

What appears small today may be preparation for something much greater in His Kingdom.

Will Every Believer Receive the Same Responsibility?

All true believers are fully saved and completely belong to Christ. There are not different degrees of salvation.

However, Scripture indicates that rewards and responsibilities may differ.

The servant entrusted with ten cities was not more saved than the servant entrusted with five. Both belonged to the master. Their differing responsibilities reflected their stewardship.

Christ knows what each person has received. He knows our abilities, limitations, opportunities, hardships, motives, and level of understanding. His evaluation will be perfectly fair.

No believer will be able to say, “Jesus misunderstood my circumstances.”

He knows everything.

Different responsibilities will not create resentment, jealousy, or pride among glorified believers. No saint will compete for attention or question Christ’s wisdom. Every servant will rejoice in whatever assignment brings glory to the King.

The important question is not whether my assignment will appear greater than someone else’s.

The question is:

Have I been faithful with what Jesus entrusted to me?

Why Will Satan Be Released at the End?

Revelation tells us that Satan will be bound during the thousand years. Yet at the end, he will be released for a short time and will again deceive the nations.

Why would God allow this?

Although the Bible does not explain every reason, Satan’s final rebellion will demonstrate an important truth about the human heart.

The mortal inhabitants of the Millennium will live under the perfect government of Jesus Christ. They will experience righteousness, justice, peace, and abundant blessing. Yet children will be born during that period who must personally choose whether they will trust and follow the King.

Living in a perfect environment will not automatically produce a surrendered heart.

When Satan is released, some will follow his deception and rebel against Christ. Their rebellion will demonstrate that humanity’s deepest problem was never merely poor government, inadequate education, economic hardship, or an unhealthy environment.

The deepest human problem is sin within the heart.

A person can live under the visible reign of Jesus and still refuse to love Him.

God will swiftly end this final rebellion. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to deceive again.

What Happens After the Millennium?

Following the Millennium and Satan’s final defeat comes the Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20. Afterward, God brings forth the New Heaven and New Earth.

John writes:

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
—Revelation 21:1

Then comes one of the greatest declarations in all of Scripture:

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.”
—Revelation 21:3

The Millennium is therefore not the final destination. It is part of God’s unfolding plan leading into the eternal state, where His children will dwell with Him forever.

There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. Sin and rebellion will be gone forever.

The King’s servants will continue serving Him:

“And His servants shall serve Him.”
—Revelation 22:3

Our service does not conclude when earthly life ends. It enters a new and glorious form in the presence of God.

A Necessary Word of Humility

Faithful Christians do not all interpret the Millennium in exactly the same way.

Premillennial believers understand Revelation 20 as describing a future thousand-year reign of Christ upon the earth following His return. Amillennial believers generally understand the thousand years symbolically as Christ’s present spiritual reign with His saints. Postmillennial believers have another understanding of how Christ’s Kingdom advances before His return.

This lesson follows the premillennial understanding.

We should study these matters carefully while treating other sincere believers with humility and love. Our salvation does not depend upon arranging every prophetic event perfectly.

Our hope rests in Jesus Christ.

Although Christians may disagree about some details of the Millennium, Scripture unmistakably teaches that Christ will reign, evil will be defeated, the saints will serve Him, and His Kingdom will never end.

What Does This Mean for Us Today?

The purpose of prophecy is not merely to satisfy our curiosity about tomorrow. It should transform how we live today.

If present faithfulness prepares us for future responsibility, then our ordinary choices carry eternal importance.

The “Well-Done” saint is not merely preparing to leave this world. He is being trained to serve Christ in the world to come.

Perhaps the difficulties, disappointments, rejection, training, ministry opportunities, and lessons of your life are accomplishing far more than you can presently see.

Perhaps God is teaching you to become:

• Faithful when no one is watching
• Humble when responsibility increases
• Obedient when the assignment is difficult
• Compassionate toward people who are struggling
• Wise in handling what belongs to Him
• Courageous when truth is unpopular
• Dependable in seemingly small responsibilities

These qualities matter now, and they may be preparing you for service in Christ’s coming Kingdom.

During the Millennium, faithful saints will serve without exhaustion, lead without selfish ambition, administer justice without prejudice, worship without distraction, work without frustration, and reign without corruption.

Above all, they will live and serve in the presence of the King.

The Question We Must Answer

The question that began this lesson was:

What will the “Well-Done” saints be doing during the Millennium?

Scripture’s answer is that they will worship, serve, and reign with Jesus Christ. They will carry out the responsibilities He assigns within His righteous Kingdom.

But that future question leads to a more immediate one:

What has the Master entrusted to me today, and am I faithfully preparing for the responsibilities of His coming Kingdom?

We are not earning a place in Heaven. Salvation is God’s gift, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and received through faith.

But once we belong to Him, our faithfulness matters.

The abilities He has given us matter.

The people He places in our path matter.

The opportunities He provides matter.

The way we use our time, resources, influence, and spiritual gifts matters.

Our earthly lives are brief, but they are not meaningless. This present life may be our training ground for service in the Kingdom of Christ.

The words “Well done” are not merely Christ’s recognition of a life completed.

They may also be His invitation into a magnificent new season of service:

“You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

May we live faithfully today, knowing that our King is coming—and that He is preparing His faithful servants to reign and serve with Him tomorrow.