ARE YOU READY FOR THAT DAY?

Eternal Perspectives         by Sally Bair

Ready or not

A tabloid headline screamed, “Christ will return on December 25!”  For some people that announcement might have seemed scarier than the picture of a Halloween vampire. For others it may have brought happy grins. The reader’s reaction depended on his or her spiritual standing with Christ.

There have been many other predictions in the past about a date and time of Christ’s return. None have been accurate, obviously. No one knows when He’ll return. Jesus said, “You…must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:40)

Are you ready for His return?  On that day will you fall before Him with fear and trembling, knowing you never heeded an evangelist or pastor’s call—or your grandmother’s prayer—to repent and turn your life over to Christ?  Or will you welcome Him, assured you will be taken up to heaven to live with Him in eternal joy rather than being sent to hell to suffer?

All of us will come face to face some day with our eternal destiny. Luke 9:59 says: “[Jesus] said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” 

Are you waiting first to see your kids graduate … to pay off your mortgage … to finish college … to give up drinking, smoking, or partying … to see justice accomplished for the wrong someone has done to you …to take your family to Disneyland or the Grand Canyon … to sow your wild oats while you’re still young? 

No excuse will hold back Jesus’ return. “I tell you, now is … the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) For the sake of your eternal destiny, do not put it off. Accept him into your life. Believe in Him. Confess your sins to him. Then turn your life around. You’ll not only be assured of eternal life with Him, you’ll also enjoy peace and joy and other blessings He has ready for you from this day on.

Lord, we want to be fit for Your kingdom. Help us to be ready for Your return by forgetting all else but You. In Jesus’ name, amen.