If we want to be ready for the Lord’s return, we must be diligent to stay ready every day of our lives. To be caught unaware when Jesus comes back should terrify us all. It’s easy for us to shake our heads at the disciples who fell asleep while keeping watch as the Lord went off by Himself to pray in the garden (Matthew 26:36-46), but are we any better?
Are we not even more guilty of falling asleep as we await the Lord’s return? If we are not focusing our lives on serving Christ and doing the things He commands us to do, we are not staying ready. We are simply going through the motions and living as if His return is not imminent. Jesus could return before you finish reading this post. He could come before I finish writing it! If He does, will He find us ready?
To stay ready does not mean we live life in a state of paralysis. On the contrary, we should be very active in doing all we can with the gifts the Lord provides to us to bring glory to Him by accomplishing the will of God. Being ready is not about achieving a certain state and then waiting idly for Jesus. As long as we are drawing breath, we must be about the mission of the Kingdom. None of us will be ashamed should Jesus find us being His hands and feet when He comes back.
Jesus told a few parables about being ready for His coming. One concerned ten virgins awaiting the coming of the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13). In this parable, He stressed the importance of preparing ahead of time for His return. Once the coming of the Lord is upon us, it will be too late for any last-minute preparations. Only those who have lived looking for His return will find themselves ready when He comes.
A second parable Jesus told concerning the need to stay ready for His return was the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-28. In this teaching, we see the importance of doing the Lord’s work until He comes back. The Lord gives each of us a unique blend of skills, talents, and gifts that are to be used in the service of God. If we want to stay ready to meet Jesus, we must be exercising what He entrusts to us for the glory of God. To keep secret the redeeming power of the gospel is to live in disobedience. We must always be sharing the gospel through our words, actions, and attitudes.
It should go without saying, but I must say it, anyway. If we are to stay ready, then we must be making Jesus the priority in our lives. We cannot neglect to spend time in His Word or in prayer. It is imperative we diligently study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). We must study, pray, and do the work He has entrusted to us. We should live every day in full expectation of seeing our Savior today. In what condition will He find your heart? What will the Lord find you doing upon His return? Stay ready; today could be the day we see Him at last!