In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of Lords,
1 Timothy 6:13-15 NIV
In Paul’s final charge to Timothy, he offers a profound reminder that speaks directly to our modern-day mindset. In 1 Timothy 6:14–15, Paul urges Timothy to “keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time.” That final phrase—“in his own time”—struck me deeply as I reflected on the passage.
The return of Jesus Christ is entirely on God’s timetable. Human desire, effort, or expectation cannot influence. This truth challenges a tendency many of us fall into: living as though we know exactly when Christ will come. Consciously or unconsciously, we often behave as if we are in control—not only of our lives but of time itself.
When we believe we have control over the timing of Christ’s return, our sense of urgency begins to fade. This affects our spiritual disciplines and our repentance. We might delay turning back to God, assuming there is always more time. We tell ourselves that tomorrow will offer another opportunity to get right with Him. But the reality is sobering—we do not know what tomorrow holds.
This casual attitude towards repentance reveals how easily we can be lulled into spiritual complacency. Life feels predictable and routine. Yet the truth is that time is fragile, and Christ’s return will be sudden, unexpected, and decisive. The Bible warns us in Matthew 24:44: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
The phrase “in his own time” reminds me that the end is not in my hands. God appointed the moment, and He alone knows it. That understanding should shape how we live today. Since we cannot control the timing of Christ’s return, we must instead take full responsibility for how we live now. We must guide our thoughts, choices, and actions by a constant awareness that His appearing could be at any moment.
What we can control is our readiness. We can choose to live prepared—to cultivate a heart that is faithful, watchful, and submitted to God. Likewise, we can strive to ensure that if Christ were to return today, He would find us walking in obedience, not drifting in delay.
We should not risk being found in a condition that disqualifies us from reigning with Christ. This is not a call to fear, but to faithfulness. It is a reminder that every moment counts and that readiness is a continual posture, not a one-time decision.
This reflection calls us to examine how we are living. Are we making the most of today, knowing that tomorrow is not promised? Are we walking in repentance, humility, and trust, knowing that the King may appear at any time?
Living It Out
Take time today to reflect on your spiritual posture. Are you living as though you have all the time in the world, or as though Jesus could return at any moment? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you cultivate a heart of readiness. Confess any areas of complacency and renew your commitment to walk faithfully, moment by moment, in step with God’s will. For in His own time, He will return—and we must be ready to meet Him.