Little children live for the present moment: Given a promise of something future, they expect it immediately. Many adults in the present world live for the immediate gratification of their desires, saying, “Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we [shall] die.”
While some are concerned about the long-term future of planet earth, the majority are only worried about current events like storms and wars that personally affect them or their loved ones. Sadly, what comes after this life is often of little concern, and the thought that God’s Son may return in their lifetime to execute judgment on them is, to them, not worth thinking about.
The Christian is given, by the Lord, a present and blessed hope concerning the future, which even death cannot take away. He is taught of God to live the present in view of the future. To warn, to encourage and to direct our present lives, God has told us about future events. He has shared with us His plans for the glory of His Son. He has taught us to turn “to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to await His Son from the heavens, whom He raised from among the dead, Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath” (1 Thess. 1:9-10 JND).