Therefore you also be ready

.... for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Luke 12:40). The “Son of man” is a messianic title that Jesus applied to Himself, and His “coming” refers to the second coming of which He spoke elsewhere (see also Acts 1:11). The Old Testament contains two pictures of the then coming Messiah. The first is of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53; Acts 8:26-35), the second that of the conquering Messiah (Isaiah 42:4; Zechariah 14:1-2). Jesus made it clear that when He comes the second time He will come to judge. In fact we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ “that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). For those who are truly saved, this judgement is not about salvation (justification), but rather about what we have built on the foundation of that justification. We will either gain or loose rewards as the fire tests what sort are our works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

The Scripture tells believers, that He will wipe away all tears (Revelation 21:4), and no doubt some of those tears will be tears of joy since there will be no more suffering, or death no more grief. But I sometimes wonder if some of the grief He will take away at that time will be the realization of how little we have done for Him. The above “therefore you also be ready” follows the admonition to know this “that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into” (verse 39). It is for this reason that we too should also be ready. In the wider context of this admonition is about our living life in the joyful expectation of His imminent return. We are to be lovers of His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

In the context of Paul telling us that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, he also says that “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). And if we do this, we can actually welcome the judgement seat of Christ because it is there that we will be receiving rewards (1 Corinthians 3:14). And on the prayer call this morning, I was repenting that I have not always redeemed the time, that I have often lived for myself. And I am welcoming this time of testing, this time of shaking and refining. And in obedience to 2 Chronicles 7:14, I am seeking to lay aside the sin and the weight that so easily ensnares ensnares me, and to run with perseverance the race He has set before me (Hebrews 12:1).

Lord Jesus, You tell us “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching” (Luke 12:37). We need Your help Lord to live in the expectation of Your imminent return, I do! Father I repent on behalf of myself and of Your church for being asleep. When this crisis is over Lord , we do not want to go back to the same old, same old. Please continue to refine me Lord so that I will not be afraid to be close to the flame of Your consuming fire, in Jesus Name Amen