Several times during His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus warned His followers to be ready for His coming again. For instance, He said in Matthew 24:42, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." Two verses later Jesus warned, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (verse 44). In the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).
All born-again believers believe that the Lord Jesus is coming back one day. Now, we may not agree on just when we think He will return, particularly for His bride, the church, but we believe that just as surely as He came the first time He is coming again one day. The question is not, "Is Jesus coming again?" It's not even, "When is He coming again?" because no one but the Father knows when. The question we as believers need to ask ourselves is, "Are we ready for our Lord's return?" Are we heeding His warning and watching for His return?
The late evangelist and pastor R.A. Torrey once said, "The return of our Lord is the great Bible argument for a pure, devoted, active life of service." Indeed, if we truly believe that Jesus is coming again and that He could come at any moment then our lives will reflect our belief. Unfortunately, though we believe that our Lord is coming back one day many of us do not live with the urgency that indicates that it is a real belief. Instead of loving and serving our Lord as we should, many Christians give mere lip service to Him.
What if? What if our Heavenly Father chose to warn us that on a particular day the Lord Jesus would return? Gone would be our lip service. Many who have for years set as spectators on the sidelines would suddenly get busy for the Lord. Those who have never shared their faith with a lost person would immediately begin to tell the Good News. Those who have robbed God of His tithe would try to play catch up. Those church members on our rolls who have not set foot in a church in ages would suddenly become some of the most faithful members our churches have ever had.
I think you get the picture. If we knew that Jesus was going to return in a week, a month, or a year that knowledge would impact the way we live for Him. Well, friend, we know that He is coming again one day. Therefore we ought to live each day as though it were the day of His return.
As faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ we must be ready because He is coming again one day and today could be that day!!! So as our Lord taught us, let us be dressed and ready for His return. Let's keep the lamps burning and watch, and as we watch let us be faithful and fruitful servants!
Jesus is coming! Are YOU ready?
I have talked about our children before so you'll have to forgive me for writing about our daughter Hannah (that's her in the picture with her mom and I) again. I just want people to know what an amazing young lady she is. Now, she is a typical young person and there are times when I feel like killing her and telling God she died (just kidding of course), but she really is amazing.
Hannah truly amazed and humbled me recently when I overheard her tell our church secretary that she wants "to marry someone just like my dad." I was blown out of the water when I overheard that because I know I am anything but a model husband and dad. I feel much like the preacher who said before he had children he had a sermon entitled "Ten Sure Fire Ways to Raise Godly Children" but since becoming a father he had changed his sermon to "Ten Suggestions That May or May Not Work." Now I can really identify with that pastor! That's the reason I was totally shocked when I heard Hannah make the comment that she wanted to marry someone just like me. My hope and prayer is that she will marry someone who will be a better husband to her and father to their children than I have been to her and her mom.
I am grateful to God for the amazing young lady Hannah has turned out to be. He has done an incredible job in molding and shaping into what He wants her to be inspite of the many mistakes I have made in raising her. Hannah has made a commitment to save herself for her future husband and by the grace of God she has stuck to that commitment. When many young people around her have turned their hearts to this world and the things of the world, she has kept her heart on God and the things of God. To God be the glory great things He has done!
In her 20 years short years of life Hannah has been uprooted and moved three times due to the Lord moving us to a new church field. Each move has been difficult but the most recent (December 2008) has been the most difficult. Hannah misses her friends back in Bronson, FL greatly yet she presses on knowing that we are right where the Lord wants us to be. I am grateful to God for the people in our church and community who have reached out to her to make her transition easier than it otherwise would have been!
Although Hannah has not received the praise and encouragement from her dad that she deserves, she has turned out to be one very special and incredible young lady. I thank God for who Hannah has become. And Hannah I want you to know that I am EXTREMELY PROUD to be your dad!!! You are an incredible young lady and I am proud of who you are in the Lord. I am praying for you as you continue to seek the Lord's will for your life. Always remember to keep your heart on Him and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Love You!!! Dad
