You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it. Luke 12:40 AMPC
Context and Charge:
This is not a message we hear a lot about these days. We encourage people to seek success, relevance and influence, but we forget to prepare them for the appointment before God's judgement seat. We have ready-made answers for how to really make money, but we cannot answer the basic question of where we want to spend eternity. Jesus was speaking to his disciples here, as He always does when he is teaching the principles of His kingdom. This is not a message the world can respond the right way to, because the world cannot accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The one who will respond the right way to this verse must leave the world and surrender totally to Jesus. This is the key to making a man ready to stand before the judgement seat of God, when Jesus returns.
How do you define being 'ready'? One definition says: "in a suitable state for an action or situation; fully prepared'. Another one says: "easily available or obtained; within reach'. These definitions make it clear that there is always an event in the future, for which suitable and adequate preparations must be made. This means that the nature of the event defines the nature of the preparations. The way you prepare for the visit of royalty to your home, is not the same way you prepare for the visit of a regular friend. If there was a call now to prepare for war, would it find me sufficiently resourced for the demand of battle? How are you preparing for the coming of the Son of Man? It is clear that He is coming back some day. Would my current preparations be considered sufficient and suitable?
Conviction and Conclusion:
I must note that the coming of the Son of Man is at a time that no one anticipates. This is what makes being ready so important. If the man of the house knew at what time the thief was coming, he would have stood watch, and not allowed his house to be broken into. There is no metrics or science that can help me prepare adequately for the coming of Jesus beyond the Word of God already provided. The Word makes clear what the signs of the end times are, and what I need to do to prepare the right way. If I will take time to read, I will know what He expects of me. I cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences of my actions if I fail to prepare the right way. The appointment is certain, as well as judgment for all men. Would what I do now earn me a good reward? It is not too late to be sure; eternity is too long a time not to know where you will spend it. God's time of favour is here.
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