You might think these words of Jesus to be frightening, like “just wait till your father gets home.” You might find them to be a warning. You might see them as instruction.

Maybe we should look at them as encouragement. Perhaps we should consider them for preparation.

Much of the Old Testament told of the Messiah’s coming, where He would be born, how He would live, die, and rise again. When He arrived, however, only a handful noticed and realized this was the Messiah – and they were foreigners, not of His people. As He lived, a few recognized Him and followed Him, but really, only a few.

Jesus told several stories of someone surprised by the person or thing they were waiting for and told His disciples to be ready all the time for the Son of Man to come. He doesn’t want us unprepared when He returns.

I don’t think that means constantly looking at the sky, waiting to see Him descending on a cloud. The Thessalonians were admonished about that. I do think that means that we keep our hearts and minds tuned in to Him.

For example, Jesus mentions the homeowner being prepared for a burglar if he had known when the guy would show up. Nowadays we can prepare for that burglar by locking our doors and windows, and setting alarms.

Imagine that spiritually. By accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins, we are installing the doors to our hearts. By pouring the scriptures in every day, not only reading them but examining them and committing the truths to memory, we are turning the locks. When we live those truths out, applying them to our lives, we are setting the alarms. As we walk this faith walk, aware of our Savior and His future return, we are prepared for it, waiting and watching in our spirits for Him.

Today is the day to prepare for His imminent return. Is it tomorrow? Is it in ten years? Is it in the next breath? I don’t know. It could be any of those, and we need to be ready.

Are you?

Coffee, Bible, Journal.

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