Like the tiredness that comes before a sickness, or an alert on your phone; what can we look out for so that when we see it happening, we know Christ’s return is near? We cannot know the date and the hour. All we have are general words about what to expect as we wait for Jesus to come back. War between China and America, a massive earthquake in New Zealand, famine in Madagascar, persecution in North Korea, Gospel proclamation in the Middle East. These events are all signs that Christ is coming, but they are not signs that speak to a specific date.

Maybe you are disappointed that we cannot have more clarity about Jesus’ return. You would like to have a specific sign in order to prepare. The general nature of Jesus’ words is actually very helpful to us, however, because his words give us the right perspective.

In the Western world we are generally taught that our societies are advancing. We live in an age of progress: new technologies every week, global organisations like the World Health Organisation working to solve hunger and promote peace. We can all look forward to prosperity, long life and the toleration of different views. War should come to an end, terrorism can be a thing of the past, and any threats to life can be nullified with vaccines and stay at home orders. We are masters of this world, so we have been told.

But reality has not matched this expectation. Democracy is not spreading as it was meant to, it is not fostering discussion but encouraging polarization. Totalitarianism is becoming the norm. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, wars in central Africa and Ukraine, hunger in Somalia and Sudan. Instead of tolerance more than 100 million Christians live under persecution and still the message of Christ continues to spread. The narrative we have been taught about human progress does not fit the facts. In contrast, Jesus’ predictions have proved to be far more accurate. The temple was destroyed and all the other signs have continued unabated. Of course, he knows better than anyone else, he has conquered death; he holds the future in his hands.

In terms of application for us today, we must have the right expectations. There will always be poverty, pandemics, persecution and false teachers. There will always be individuals who leave God’s church when following Christ requires sacrifice. Until Jesus comes back, this is the world in which we live and nothing significant will change. And that means we are foolish if we build our lives on what is temporary, dreaming of a consummated kingdom in this age. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Christ’s words will not. His truth will stand. Your job will not last forever. Your house is temporary, your car, the city you live in, our planet, the universe: it will all pass away. It will come to an end when Christ returns.

Do not invest all your time and energy into that which is temporary. Live now as you hope to live when Christ returns. Seek first the kingdom of God—growth in godliness and knowledge of God’s word. The development of a Christ-like character seeking truth, holiness, justice and love. Those are the fruits that come from God’s Spirit, fruits that will last. And they are fruits that flow from a hope stored up in heaven. Without such a hope we will be disappointed by this world. It will never be disaster free or persecution free—never as comfortable or satisfying as we would like.