THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL.
Expiration Date.

By John Lomacang

April 18th, 2026

"And behold, I am coming quickly ….’” Revelation 22:12

Have you paid any attention to that small notice posted on practically everything we buy or use? It’s on the plastic bag that holds the loaf of bread, as well as on the milk cartons. It’s on the Tylenol bottle, and on a pack of batteries, too. It’s on ink cartridges, warranties, your insurance card, and your driver’s license. It’s on your ATM and credit cards, and even on the elevator inspection sticker. It’s called an expiration date, and depending on the item, it can mean anything from “not that important” to “critical!”

If paying attention to dates seems insignificant, just imagine how many of us would have to get remarried if our marriage license had an expiration date! And if we got pulled over by a police officer, he wouldn’t care if the bread in our cars had passed its expiration date; but if our license, registration, or insurance card had, well that’s another story. Unless we pay attention to those dates, we’ll never know how long they’re going to last.

Let’s switch gears: What if our trials came with an expiration date? Imagine receiving a letter that read, “Your financial problems will expire on the first Monday of next month, never to return again.” How much easier would it be for a Christian if family conflict, personality clashes, and theological disagreements came with an expiration date? How happy would you be if you knew there were just two hours left on your critical illness?

Now let’s get more passionate: How much more diligent would we be if Jesus told us we only had nine more months before sin and suffering expired? How happy would we be if we could see a Doppler radar that indicated the storms of life were nearly over? Actually, there is such a radar. It’s called The Bible, and even though no obvious dates jump out, we can estimate how far off our planet’s expiration date is. End-time signs—like curdling milk, mold spots on bread, and fermenting orange juice—are indicators that this world is losing its usefulness.

If you’re having a challenge assigning relevance to the world’s ills, listen to Dr. Luke as he points to the “label.” He writes, “So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:31. Matthew, the converted tax collector, adds, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44.

I once handed an American Airlines representative the wrong boarding pass and wondered why he was examining it so long. Finally, he said, “Sir, this ticket has expired.” And even though I held Elite status with that airline, an expired boarding pass superseded my standing. The boarding pass looked perfectly legitimate to me, but not paying attention to the expiration date delayed my departure.

What’s the point? If we ignore the small details hidden in the end-time signs, we will certainly hinder our preparedness—and we may not be ready for departure when Jesus returns! If ever there was an hour to get ready, it is now. The Good Book says, “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:37.

Actually, thinking the date for Christ’s return is going to be changed to wait on us can lead to complacency. I believe this is the most critical hour. We must check the “label” that says, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12.

No, I don’t know the date, but I do trust that the Lord will come soon. I want to do everything as if I could see the expiration date, and I want to live as if Jesus died yesterday, arose today, and is coming back tomorrow!