Saturday, January 3, 2015

Focus '15 - Be Ready - Entry #1

Hi Friends!

I don't know about you - but oftentimes I am so surrounded by the "here and now" that I fail to reflect on the "then and there" as I should - by the "then and there" I mean that day when we will be in our heavenly home with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the biggest reasons we have to celebrate redemption from sin in Jesus - is that He promises to return for His church and take us to our heavenly home that He has prepared for us - but sometimes I think we see that as far off and fail to live each day as we should.

In Matthew 24: 43-44 (NIV) Jesus says "But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

My conviction is that the church (you, me, all followers of Jesus) must live with an expectancy of His return - as such this is one of my primary goals entering into the New Year - I want the church to "be ready" for the return of Jesus Christ.

I want us to live each day as if we expect the Lord to return that day!

I want us to breathe each breath as if we expect the Lord to return in that breath!

Matthew 24: 45-46 (NIV) Jesus says “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns."

Why would that be good?

Glad you asked!

Verse 48a (NIV) Jesus says "Truly I tell you, he will put him (the faithful and wise servant) in charge of all his possessions."

That is the opportunity that awaits for the church that is "ready" for Jesus' return!

But what of those who are "not ready" for Jesus' return?

Verse 48 b -51(NIV) Jesus says "But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

This doesn't take much explanation - Jesus clearly speaks to the reality of heaven and hell and says we are either going to "be ready" for one or the other - as such the hinge pin of our eternal destiny is ultimately found in living with an expectancy of our Lord's return.

Every day is to be the Lord's day!

Every breath is to be unto the Lord!

Jesus teaches that the "here and now" should not be centered in personal pleasure and self-promotion and putting others down - the church should live with an expectancy of the "then and there" - where each breath of every day is used to lift-up Jesus and fellowman in anticipation of His return.

Live with expectancy anticipating His return - be ready!

God's Peace,
Jeff