Are You Ready?

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows,

not even the angels of heaven,

nor the Son,

but the Father only.”

Matthew 24:36

Do you remember when you were a child and your family would get ready to go somewhere? Whether it be to town, to visit with family, or to go on vacation, the same question was always asked: Are you ready?

Each morning after my children have been up for a while, and I am sure that they have had time to get everything in order for another school day, I will ask each one, “Are you ready?” They are each old enough to understand what I mean. Sometimes I will still go over my check list of things that they need to have done just to make sure that they did not miss anything. Many times, as I go down my list of things, one of them will say, “Oops, I forgot to do that,” or ” I did not know I needed to do that.” That child will then hurry off to complete whatever task was left undone.

At school this question is asked multiple times. Are you ready to say your scripture? Are you ready to turn this book in? Are you ready to take your test? Each student knows exactly what we mean when we ask this question. In this case too, however, we often find a child that is not prepared. He will have forgotten to study his scripture, or she will have forgotten to study for a test. After being asked, “Are you ready”, That child will realize that no, he was not ready. There is still work to be done.

So, what does this mean? “Are you ready?” When we ask this question what we are really saying is: Are you prepared? Have you taken the necessary steps to prepare for a certain task or a particular time of your day. What we really mean is: Have you done everything you need to do to get ready?

I want to ask you this same question today. Are you ready?

Are you ready for Jesus to return? Are you ready if He sees fit to call you home today? Have you gotten everything in order? Have you made the necessary preparations for when that day comes?

We do not know when that day is coming. We have been told by Jesus that He is coming back for us. We have been given a check list of things that must be done in order to be ready. But, are we? Have we made the necessary preparations?

Unlike the children, we will not have a chance when Jesus returns to hurry and get it together. We will not have a second chance to get it right. When Jesus comes back, whether it be in the rapture or whether He calls you home by death, there are no second chances. Jesus is not going to come to you and ask you if you are ready, and then wait patiently while you finish up your final tasks.

The time is now. We have been given our only warning. God’s word has told us that He is coming back to take us home and we have been warned to be ready. We will have no excuses when that time comes as to why we were not ready. We will not be able to blame someone else, or to try to explain away our reason for not being prepared. If we are not ready when Jesus comes back, it will be too late.

I want to urge you this morning.  Please search your heart. If you know in your heart that you are not ready, if you know that if Jesus came back today you would not be prepared, then take some time to get alone with God. Let Him examine your life. Let Jesus show you where you need to make changes, and then make the necessary changes. The time is now, the day is here. No one knows how much time he or she has left.

I want to encourage you this morning. If you have examined your heart, and you find that you are ready to go. If you find that you have made the preparations to leave, then take the time to encourage others. Take the time to witness to someone who may not be ready to go. Take the time to pray for the lost in your family, or your community who are still lost.

Let us get ready, because I believe that the day is drawing near when we will be called home.

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Motivational Monday: A Change in Pace

Therefore be ye also ready:

for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 24:44

What if we could somehow know exactly when Jesus was coming back for His children?

Would that change your daily routine?

What preparations would you be making?

This week is bringing about a change in pace for our family. Stating today, we are making preparations, changing gears you might say.

School starts for us on Friday.

Every year, on the week of school starting back, we make the kids slowly get back in the routine of going to bed early, getting up early, and making preparations for a new school year.I have preparations to make myself. I make sure that my house is in order, that the cabinets are stocked with healthy foods for breakfast, snacks, and lunches. I make sure that I am prepared to get up, get my stuff done, and get out the door on time.

It never fails, however, that each year, when it comes time to prepare for school to start again, we are faced with the same questions from the kids: “Why do we have to go to bed early? Why do we have to get up early? Why do we have to make sure that all our school supplies are in our bags and ready for the first day of school?”

It is to make sure that we are ready. Changes are coming and I want us to be prepared. I do not want us to be caught off guard. We know the time is at hand, therefore, we make preparations for the changes.

We have the same responsibility when it comes to the return of Jesus.

We have preparations to make, and we have things to get in order.

The difference is this: We do not know when that time will be. That is why it is so important to make sure that we stay ready, that we keep an eye on the skies. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:10 that Jesus will come as a thief in the night. Just as a thief would not announce his coming into your house, Jesus has not made the time of His return known to man. We simply must be prepared and ready to go in an instant.

Our family was coming home from Church last night and as we rounded a curve in the road, the trees thinned out and we could see the eastern sky. It was painted with blues and purples, all swirled together and the clouds were standing tall in a few different places among all the beautiful colors. As we drove, my husband and I began to talk about Jesus’ return, and I silently prayed, “Lord, will today be the day?” I began to think how amazing it will be, when that day arrives, to see Jesus split the eastern sky and come to take His children home.

Are you ready?

Have you made your preparations? There will be no time to make changes when Jesus comes back for His church. The time for preparation is now.

Are you keeping an eye on the eastern sky?

Jesus is coming back, and I believe that it will be soon.

I pray today that you are ready to go. I pray that you have made your preparations, that you have your house in order. If you do not, I pray that right now you will take the time to do this:  Accept Jesus as your Savior, ask Him to come in and dwell inside of you. Give your life to Him. With this done, you gain the assurance that when Jesus does return for His children that you will be ready.

If you have made preparations, if you do have your house in order and you are ready to go, Praise God! Let us keep working until He returns, but let us also keep an eye on the sky. I do not know about you, but I am ready to go.

I pray that you are as well.

God bless you today.