Ready or Not, Here I Come

June 13

(Luke 12:35-40 NIV) “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, {36} 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. {37} 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. {38} 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. {39} 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. {40} You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

(John 14:3 NIV)  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

(Galatians 3:26-27 NIV) “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, {27} for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

In the game “hide and seek”, children hide while the person who is “it” counts to one hundred. When finished counting, that person yells, “Ready or not, here I come.” Jesus is coming back and we are told to be ready. Christ said to be “watching” -- to be living in anticipation of His return -- to be expecting Him to return. Are you watching? We are to be dressed in clothes of righteousness that God provides for us. Only those who are dressed right will be admitted. Are you dressed? Are you clothed with Christ? Our lamps must be burning as we light up the darkness of our world. Are you shining? Jesus said, “Be ready.” We cannot “get ready” after He comes -- we must be ready WHEN He comes. Are you ready? Are there accounts that need to be settled? Are there sins that need to be forsaken? Are there commitments that need to be kept? Get ready, because ready or not, Jesus is coming. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day