ready or not, here i come

Okay, I admit it. I’m a nerd.

There are lots of reasons to reach that conclusion, but it’s a reference to the fact that I’m an unofficial birdwatcher. Oh, I don’t take binoculars or a field manual on my walks in the park, but I do enjoy spotting birds and trying to figure out what they are.

More than that, I just enjoy watching them do whatever it is they’re doing. And their chirping and song-making makes me smile and helps lower my blood pressure. And that’s a good thing for a Type A Personality like me.

This morning I watched several robins bathing in the creek. One-by-one they’d walk down to the water, wade out a little bid and then do their splash routine. Who needs a shower head when you’ve got wings to get the water where it needs to go?

While that was entertaining, so were the woodpeckers in the trees above. I love watching them walk up and down the sides of trees, seemingly defying gravity. And I never cease to wonder how they can peck so violently and not rattle their tiny brains and then stagger around in pain.

My hunch is most of you aren’t nerdy like me. You probably think birds are okay—maybe even more than okay—but you certainly don’t consider yourself a birdwatcher like me. Shudder!

I hope you are a watcher, however—not of birds, but of Christ.

You see, Jesus told us He’s coming back, and for us to anticipate it and be ready for it. And, yes, to even watch for it.

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 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. 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.

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. 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. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”1

I know, I know. This is a long passage and Christ says some strange things. We won’t take the time to explain everything—it would take too long. Instead, just focus on the underlined portions.

This is Christ’s main point: “I’m coming back and you need to be watching and you need to be ready for it.”

So, are you ready? That is, are you living a holy and godly life and serving Jesus to the best of your ability? Are you ready for your master to return?

You don’t need to be a bird-watching nerd like me. But you do need to be Christ-watcher. He’s coming back and it could be any moment.

Are you ready?

“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.”

1  Luke 12:35-40

more change is coming

Times have changed. You may have noticed.

For instance, in 1969 the movie “Midnight Cowboy” was x-rated. Then, in 1992 a reputable movie guide said it would be “considered PG-13” by that year’s standards.1

So let me get this straight: In 1969 only adults interested in watching the most risqué of movies could view “Midnight Cowboy.” Then, 23 years later, it’s considered acceptable for children 13 and under to watch (with parental permission, of course!).

Times have definitely changed. And think about this: If our moral standards dropped that far in just 23 years, 18 more years have passed since 1992. What kind of movie rating would it get now?

As alarming as all this may be, we need to remember that our great God is still in control. He’s the same “yesterday and today and forever.”2 He hasn’t abdicated His throne yet and never will.

And, best of all, that great God of ours is eventually coming back and what a glorious day it will.

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.’”3

Have times changed? Oh yeah. Is it a little bit troubling? Absolutely.

But praise God, things are going to change a whole lot more. And instead of getting worse, they’re going to get better.

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”4

1  Rich Heldenfels, “’Marriage Ref’ will return to tackle relationships,” 24 August 2010, Akron Beacon Journal, via Indianapolis Star, accessed online at http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20108240303.

2  Hebrew 13:8
3  Revelation 19:6
4  Revelation 22:20