Ready or not?

Welcome back to Unseen. It has been a while because of illness and general yuck. With the holidays I was remebering family stories as I was working on a tribute for my mom. Read on for a lesson I learned from my grandparents.

Ready Or Not?

The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 1 Thes 5:2

My grandparents were quite a pair.  They were married for 68 years when Grandpa died, so many times they had no need for verbal communication. The most vivid example was the dance they did when it was time for a visit to be over. Grandpa wore a hat whenever he went out and when he got ready to go he would walk through the room Grandma was in, carrying his hat. Grandma never responded at this point. He would wait a few minutes and then walk back through wearing his hat. She started thinking about getting ready then. A few more minutes would pass before he walked through jingling the car keys. She would start to wrap up conversation but she could talk till the cows came home and then talk to the cows. Finally he would start the car and then come in and give her a look. She would usually act surprised that he wanted to go, but would put on her scarf and get ready to go.

Getting ready to go is a process but it is necessary. Someday it will be time for us to leave here. Whether you die and go to be with the Lord or he returns to restore all things, we need to be ready. Peter’s description of that time is vivid.

  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with        a    great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Pet 3:10

 Paul encourages us to “walk not as unwise men but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:15-16)” The story of the wise and unwise virgins in Matthew 25 show us the necessity for being watchful.

For some people the Lord’s return brings fear, but it is a good thing for believers. We are not at home here. This week was particularly hard and I am glad to know that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for me (John 10). This world is not all there is. Take heart and keep watch.