What does being ready mean to you? Are you ready for an emergency? Are you ready for the storms of life? Are you ready for a job promotion? Have you ever been surprised by something unexpected? How did you react? Are you ready for Jesus to return?
I learned the Boys Scouts motto, be prepared, when I was a boy. Our Scoutmaster taught us that it meant planning ahead, getting things ready, having the right provisions and tools on hand. He taught us that unexpected things can happen at any moment of any day.
It is unfortunate that many who call themselves Christians are not ready. They go about their lives like everyone else in the world. They make the same mistake the person who only cursorily believes there is God, thinking they have time to make a full commitment. They think they can stand with mostly on the side of the world and make that quick jump over to Jesus’ side at the last moment.
Jesus warns us to be ready. He says that He will return when we do not expect it. That means He could return at any moment on any day. For us to be ready, we must be doing what is pleasing to Him at all times. But how many times do we go about doing what we want rather than what He wants? I suspect we do it far more often than we will admit to ourselves.
I often think about Jesus’ warning. Most often after I’ve done something I know I shouldn’t. It doesn’t matter how big or small that something is. I am quickly thankful Jesus did not return in that moment and I quickly ask Him to forgive me. The better way is to resist the temptation and do the right thing. That is hard sometimes. Yet, Jesus tells us to be ready.
I pray we all know Jesus can return at any time. I pray we seek to do what is pleasing to God. I pray each one of us remember Jesus’ warning and take it to heart. Jesus will return. He can return at any time. Do what is pleasing to God. Remember Jesus’ warning. Do what is right.
Luke 12:39-40 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Marty Pressey 