Be Ready!

Being a Christian means much more than just believing Jesus is our savior and hoping that through our correct theological doctrine we will one day get to a place called heaven when we die. In fact, as Christians, we should be more concerned about Jesus returning to earth than us going to heaven.

A true Christian is one who joins Jesus in His work on planet earth. In other words, to use religious terminology, we are “saved to serve.” In Luke 12:35-37, a passage of scriptures on watchfulness, Jesus is reminding us of this fact that his people should be watching, they should be ready and they should be doing his work. Jesus wants an immediate response when He knocks on the door.

“35Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37(a)It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.” Luke 12:35-37a

Jesus also instructs us to be on our guard against the thief. Luke 12:39-40 says, “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

It is said that Satan once called to him the emissaries of hell and said he wanted to send one of them to earth to aid women and men in the ruination of their souls. He asked which one would want to go. One creature came forward and said, "I will go." Satan said, "If I send you, what will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I will tell the children of men that there is no heaven." Satan said, "They will not believe you, for there is a bit of heaven in every human heart. In the end everyone knows that right and good must have the victory. You may not go."

Then another came forward, darker and fouler than the first. Satan said, "If I send you, what will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I will tell them there is no hell." Satan looked at him and said, "Oh, no; they will not believe you, for in every human heart there's a thing called conscience, an inner voice which testifies to the truth that not only will good be triumphant, but that evil will be defeated. You may not go."

Then one last creature came forward, this one from the darkest place of all. Satan said to him, "And if I send you, what will you say to women and men to aid them in the destruction of their souls?" He said, "I will tell them there is no hurry." Satan said, "Go!"

I pray Jesus will find us watching, ready and working when He returns!