Readiness

Matthew 24:42-44 ESV

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Why would Jesus use the comparison of His coming as a thief? I believe it is because people are going about their daily lives, caught in a false sense of “peace and safety,” not anticipating the coming of the Lord. Why would He return without an announcement? Jesus is waiting on the Father to send Him. We as children of God have been given the task to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus. Most of the residence in this world are not looking for Jesus, not watching for Jesus and most do not believe there is a heaven or a hell. Most people just believe we have this life and when it is over, nothing happens, they are just dead forever. We know better and our preparedness is to help everyone else be prepared for His coming. Not in fear but in great expectation so we can be with Jesus. So, if there was an announcement of the time of His coming most would procrastinate and not be about the Father’s business.

God has entrusted us with the Gospel (the Good News) and the power to proclaim the Good News, the anointing to proclaim the Good News and the mandate to go into all the world and preach about Jesus. We have been given the message of forgiveness and reconciliation or coming back in right relationship with God where there is peace and security here and for the life to come great joy. Society is comfortable in their ways, and we need to wake them up. God will send His Son when the time is right, but it will be at a time when many will be caught off guard.

Prayer:

Lord, use us to proclaim Your words, Your will and Your ways. We have all the tools that we need, the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit working through us. As far as the places that we cannot reach on our own, use our gifts into missions to reach people around the world. Help us to be prepared and help us to prepare others. In Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!