Friday, December 27, 2019

“BE READY!”

Matthew 24:36-44                                                (ESV)
“36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the SON, but the FATHER only.
37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the SON of MAN.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the SON of MAN.
40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
42 Therefore, STAY AWAKE, for you do not know on what day your LORD is coming.
43 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.
44 Therefore you also must “BE READY”, for the SON of MAN is coming AT AN HOUR YOU DO NOT EXPECT.”


Watching my “puppies” teaches me a lot about life.  This morning I watched as my wife was getting ready to go to the office, placing certain things she needed in the vehicle in preparation for her journey.   The “puppies” have learned that when they are getting to go with their “people”, certain preparations are made for their journey.  And, of course, they are hoping that this will be one of the days that will occur!  

JESUS instructs us to “BE READY” concerning HIS return.   HE doesn’t tell us to “BE READY” so that we are physically clean and smelling good, but we need to be Spiritually Clean with our living before HIM!  Sometimes we get so caught up in “this world” that we are temporarily in and we become so acclimated to our surroundings that it is difficult to remember we are living in the temporal, not the final destination!  

Speaking the language of our future home would be a great method of preparing for where we are going.  Ephesians 4:25-32 says that we are to “let no corrupting thoughts come out of your mouths”.  The word “corrupting” indicates infectious words, or breaking down, decomposing language that tears apart.  The opposite is what we need to have in our vocabulary to demonstrate “BEING READY”!  

When we are getting ready TO GO somewhere (ANYWHERE!), our 11 year old “puppies” start bouncing off of the walls, jumping and barking like something seemingly miraculous is about to transpire.  We should display as much anticipation for the journey in front of us.  “BE READY” by allowing JESUS to TRANSFORM our putrified, decaying selves into HIS likeness!  Then we can act like my “puppies” when they find out they are going with us, EXCITED about their journey!!!

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