In light of Christ's return, how are we to live our lives?

TL;DR:

Christ’s return isn’t just a future event—it’s a present call to live with purpose. With eternity in view, we’re called to live holy, love well, and share the gospel while there’s still time.

In light of Christ’s return, we are called to live with purpose, reverence, and urgency. We who have been saved look forward eagerly to the day when Christ returns, righting all wrongs, judging all evil, and bringing all believers to live with Him forever. This truth gives perspective and purpose to our lives today. It shows us how to live as believers in community as we all await that day: encouraging one another, living holy lives, doing everything for God’s glory, and sharing the gospel eagerly. The hope of His return should shape our daily choices—whether through kindness, integrity, or perseverance—so that even ordinary tasks become acts of worship. Living this way means we don’t just wait for Christ’s return—we live in preparation for it, with hearts and lives that point others to Him.

from the old testament

While the Old Testament doesn’t mention Christ’s return explicitly, it lays a strong foundation for how God’s people are to live in expectation of His coming rule and final judgment. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 sums it up like this: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment.” We are called to live in reverence, obey God’s ways, and remember that our actions matter in light of coming judgment.
A life that pleases God is marked by integrity, compassion, and humility, not just ritual or routine. Micah 6:8 tells us: “He has told you, O man, what is good… to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
The resurrection and eternal reward motivate us to live wisely and lead others in righteousness (Daniel 12:2-3).

from the new testament

Jesus can return at any moment (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Hebrews 10:24-25 teaches, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." In light of Jesus’ imminent, sure return, we are to encourage one another, regularly meet together with other believers, show love to one another, and practice good works.
For the believer, a proper understanding that Christ will return at any moment should be encouraging. Following a description of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Paul also teaches, "Encourage one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
Knowing that our time is limited should also cause us to live holy lives. For example, 1 Corinthians 10:31 teaches, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Colossians 3:23 adds, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Knowing Christ can return any moment should likewise challenge us to focus on sharing Christ with everyone else we can. Jesus taught, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus’ sure return focuses the way we live and the way we point people to Jesus. The apostle Paul, for example, was highly committed to taking the good news of Jesus to all people, especially those who had not yet heard about Jesus: "I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named" (Romans 15:20).
Philippians 3:13-14 states God's desired attitude for our lives: "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Our goal must be to live for Christ, looking forward to our future eternity with Him.
That future hope helps us endure even suffering in a way that brings God glory. Peter writes, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name" (1 Peter 4:16).

implications for today

Truly believing that Christ could return at any moment changes how we live every single day. Instead of getting distracted by temporary circumstances, we live with eternal purpose, making intentional choices: choosing kindness when others are rude, showing integrity at work even when no one is watching, and prioritizing time with fellow believers to encourage each other and grow together. For example, we might rearrange our schedule to regularly attend small group Bible studies or church, not out of obligation but to build others up “as the Day draws near” (Hebrews 10:25).

The possibility of Christ’s imminent return gives us a kingdom mindset in all that we do. Cooking dinner for your family can be an act of love and service to God. Doing your job with excellence and honesty becomes a way to glorify Christ (Colossians 3:23). Going through suffering and difficulty with a grateful heart and a good attitude reveals God’s grace and our trust in Him. Taking care of children becomes a means of worship. Even moments that seem small—like sending a thoughtful text or helping a neighbor—can reflect the heart of Jesus to someone who needs hope.

Time is short. We can’t afford to keep the gospel to ourselves. Whether it’s inviting someone to church, sharing your testimony, or simply planting seeds of truth in everyday conversation, we’re called to live with urgency. Christ's return isn't just something we wait for—it's something we live toward, every day, by loving others, living faithfully, and pointing people to Him.

understand

In light of Christ’s return, believers live with urgency, holiness, and purpose.
Knowing Christ could return at any moment should shape our life and decisions.
Christ’s return calls us to share the gospel boldly and to let even ordinary actions reflect the hope we have in Jesus.

reflect

How does Christ’s sure return impact the way you live your life and your priorities?
In what areas of your daily life do you need to be more intentional about living with eternal purpose?
How does the reality of Christ’s imminent return affect the way you handle suffering, setbacks, or conflict?

engage

What does it practically look like for a group of believers to “encourage one another” as we see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25)?
How can we help each other live with urgency and boldness when the world encourages comfort and distraction?
What’s the difference between waiting passively for Christ’s return and actively preparing for it—and how can we live out that difference with other believers?