Christian – Are You Ready?

Watching the daily news can be quite disturbing.  The media loves to show us images of accidents, protests, viloence and war. We should not be feeding our hearts and minds on these things.  Yes, we should be aware but constantly dwelling on the negative caused depression and fear.  As Christians we are supposed to be focusing on God’s promises in the Bible and living in confidence.  Jesus told His disciples He had to leave but was coming back!  Maybe we should be excited.  Christian are you ready for His return?

LOOKING FOR SIGNS

When I was in high school the movie  “Thief In The Night” came out in theaters. It was scary and exciting. Various denominations hold different views on the timing of events for the end times but it is common belief that Jesus is returning to this earth as He promised. He warned his disciples in Matthew 24 and 25 about the signs of the end times that the movie focused on.

I am not an expert in prophecy but I do know that what we see and hear in our news is not a surprise to God.  This part of our basic Christian doctrine that Jesus died, was buried, and on the third day physically rose, talked with his disples and ascended into heaven promising to return. I just don’t think churches in general talk about it enough.  The words to I Wish We’d All Been Ready  from Thief in the Night sound too much like our headlines today.

I Wish We’d All Been Ready Lyrics by Larry Norman

Life was filled with guns and war,
And everyone got trampled on the floor,
I wish we’d all been ready.

Children died, the days grew cold,
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold,
I wish we’d all been ready.

There’s no time to change your mind,
The Son has come and you’ve been left behind.

BEING READY

I think many Christians are asleep, distracted and living with out expectancy.  Jesus told a parable about ten virgins getting ready for a wedding but only five had prepared oil in their lamps for the grooms’ late arrival.

Matthew 25:10–13 (ESV)   And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I  do not  know you.’  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

We should live every day as if it were the last but I know I don’t.  But recently the I feel the global news has sparked a renewed interest in reading certain passages, observing current signs that Jesus may be returning soon.  Believers have been waiting over 2000 years. How much longer will it be?

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

Individually we cannot stop wars or fix the ozone levels.  The earth has been corrupted and decaying since the fall of man.  The good news is that this isn’t all that God has for us!  In Genesis He promised a Messiah would come to end Satan’s influence and rule.  The red line of redemption runs from cover to cover proclaimimg his faithfulness.

Jesus gave His disciples the “great commission” to go into all the world and teach the gospel.   Our great pandemic did not stop His message from going out.  Instead it spurred more ways to communicate through online services, blogs, podcasts and broadcasts.   We have songs of faith proclaiming this truth such as  “Jesus is Coming Back” by Jordan Feliz , “Are You Ready?” by Jason Champion and I grew up singing “Jesus is Coming Again” by John W Peterson.  Do we mean them?

We have a living hope that our eternity is secure with Him whether He comes back to earth in our lifetime or not.  We have the peace for today and bright hope for tommorrow as another hymn states.  So Christian, are you ready?

Titus 2:13    waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,