Will You Be Ready?

“…if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants… the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him and put him with the hypocrites;”

I cross the Ocmulgee River regularly. I try not to think about this. When you start thinking about the river, the water, and the dam, your mind can really get the best of you. The sooner you can get across the bridge and away from the river, the better.

From the river I can choose to drive home two ways—one along the river and lake or one away from the river and lake. Either way I choose, the mileage to my home is approximately the same.

On the days that the river, the dam, and the lake are dwelling on my mind, I take the route home away from the water. When I am not thinking about the river, dam, or lake, I take the “scary” or unnerving route home. In other words, when the “what-ifs” start filling my mind, you can be certain, I will not take the water-front excursion.

What if the dam breaks? What would I do? Where would little old me end up? Would my car be able to outpace the wall of water? (I think I may be on the verge of hyperventilating now. Breathe in and out slowly!)

I suppose the folks of Noah’s day did not take the time to think about such deep theological issues like this. If they had, they would have been better prepared and ready for the flood that would become one of biblical proportion.

Just as that water came at a time when no one expected in Noah’s day, so too is the coming of Christ again and judgment.

We may go through our daily routine thinking very little about the coming of Christ or our very own time of judgment. Christ has not come in over 2,000 years, why would we ever think he might come any time soon? It may be another 2,000 years for all we know.

I can continue to treat my employees, my co-workers, my preacher, my fellow church members, my spouse, my children, my neighbors, the poor, the homeless, and the sick, any way I please.

I’ll have time to get my life in order before Christ comes and I stand in judgment. Am I right? I may be right, or I may be wrong. Are you willing to take that chance?

I once knew a boss who told one of his employees that he thought the employee was perfect when he was hired. The employee responded, “I never said I was perfect. There was only one perfect person and that was and is Jesus Christ. And, unfortunately, I am not Christ.” The boss never spoke of the employee’s imperfections ever again.

I’m not perfect. Every day I ask for God’s forgiveness and for strength to be better. Why? Because I am aware that Christ can and will come when we least expect it. We must always be ready spiritually. It’s that simple.

Every time we open our mouth and every time we take advantage of another person, in that moment, Christ could come again. What will you be saying or doing when Christ comes again?

Be careful what you say and do today. You never know when Christ will arrive or when your life in the here and now may come to an end.