I can remember as a child my parents hosting several parties. Much went into the party before the actual event occured. For example, there were several check lists that were created. Party supplies needed to be purchased like food and decorations. The house needed to be straightened and every item in the house needed to be put in it's place. Homework needed to be completed. Everyone had a task to complete in order to make the party successful for our guests. Whew, I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting that went into the party preparation but you get the idea, there was work to be done.
Part of my responsibility to ensure a successful party was to clean/straighten our home. Even this task was broken down and jobs were assigned to each member of our home. One of my responsibilites was to clean the my room and our bathroom. One or both of my parents would go to the store to pick up the necessary supplies for the party while my brother and I attended to the jobs at home.
Ready, Set, Go! Our parents were out of the house. Now my brother and I knew about how much time it would take for our parents to drive to the store, go through the isles, pick up items, check out, and finally drive home. Between my brother and me, I always wore a watch. I would make a note in my mind of when my parents left our house and then the toughest decision needed to be made! Do I begin cleaning and taking care of my responsibilites now or do I watch the clock and begin cleaning just before I know my parents are to arrive back home????
As believer in Jesus Christ I don't have the same luxury I had as a child. Yes, there have been assignments given out to the body of the church. And just like my early family life I have been given specific tasks that I must do. These tasks range from encouraging my brothers and sisters as long as it is called today as well as helping to take care of the building God has given us to do our ministry. The difference is I cannot look at my watch in order to guage when Jesus will return. I must be about the business He has given me on a day to day, minute to minute basis or I won't be ready. What a huge problem that would be. You see, unlike the days of my childhood where my parents would discipline me for not doing the tasks I had been assigned in the short term, not doing what God wants has eternal reprecutions. For this reason we must take what Jesus said in Luke chapter 12 serious.
Luke 12:35-40 35 "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like 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 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39 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. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Friends, brothers, and sisters, let's live and work together knowing that Jesus return is closer today than when he left earth the first time.
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