Wednesday Thought -- June 22, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand 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, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-40)

I’ve heard that Jesus is supposed to come on May 21, 2011 – O wait, that day is already passed and He didn’t come. I’ve heard that Jesus is supposed to come on October 21, 2011. I’ve heard that the world is supposed to end on December 21, 2012. Of course, I also heard that someone set the date in the early 20^th century and someone said 1994 and others have been sure of other dates. So far no one has correctly predicted when Jesus will come again. And here’s what Jesus says – no one ever will correctly predict the date of His coming. Jesus said, “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” That seems pretty clear to me.

The exact date of His coming is not the critical issue. If it was the critical issue then I’m confident that God would let us in on the secret. God always gives us what we need to please Him. If we needed the date of Jesus’ coming, we’d have it from Him.

The critical issue is not the date of His coming – but being ready on any day. Jesus challenges us to be dressed ready for service and with our lamps burning. That means we should live our lives – every moment of every day – in at attitude of surrender to Jesus and a willingness to respond immediately to whatever He asks.

If Jesus whispers in my ear tonight while I sleep, “Come with Me to heaven” – I need to be ready to respond – “Yes, Lord, I’m ready.” If angel shouts and the trumpet blasts to bring this age to its end, I need to be ready.

Are you ready? Do you live in an attitude of surrender to Jesus? Are you ready to listen to whatever He asks and respond in obedience? Are your eyes open to see Him and your ears open to hear Him?

It could happen tonight. Are you ready?

His, by Grace,

Steve