Get Ready

The Bible tells us that when Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples and instructed them concerning the promise of the Holy Spirit,  Who He would send shortly, and then He ascended into heaven out of their sight. As they watched Him go into the clouds, two men in white said to the astonished disciples, " Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

This statement is worth our considering today. We know that the Gospel message calls us all to confess our sins, believe Jesus for forgiveness and live lives that reflect that deep work in our hearts that salvation is.  Now as followers of Jesus we hold that the Bible is the faithful record of God's activity in our world, and that it alone is our sole authority for faith and practice.  We call it our "light."  But as true as that is consider,  that a person lost out in the woods can hold up a lantern and see a short distance, but can still walk around in a circle.  A person out in the woods trying to find the way back needs a fixed point that will serve as a focus, something like the north star. The north star serves that purpose, for as you go toward it you will always go north, then you can orient yourself and get a better sense of direction.  

This is what the promise of Jesus' return is for us. The Bible is our light, but we remember that our activity and ministries, the guidance that it gives us will one day all be settled at the return of Jesus Christ.  That great event is our focal point, our fixed star by which we can navigate through this confusing and sometimes very dark world.  It searches our motives, our planning, our decision as to how we spend our resources and our ministry through the church.  We know that all we do is in the light of His return.

Jesus has appeared, and He will appear a second time.  With this great reality before us, we find rhyme and reason for the things we do.  We have a purpose, a goal to which and for which we are striving.  That governing star helps us align priorities and develop values based on Scripture by which we live and function it this world.  We also have a sure hope that one day justice will surely be done, and all wrongs will be made right.  

Jesus will be coming soon and we must be ready, for we do not know the day, not even the hour of when it will be. We just have to get ready.