Snap, Crackle, Pop, & Boom!

Lately, I've been learning some lessons. In particular, I've been realizing how much you take some things for granted...until they are taken away, or at least temporarily taken away. Electricity, for example.

My mind has been on electricity (or the lack of!) more than ever. Several times last month we endured some pretty severe thunderstorms, and power outages weren't infrequent. Often, I'd be working in our local deli when snap, flicker, and off the power went. For a couple hours on end. Well, the dishes still needed to be washed, so I'd try my best to wash them with the one flashlight that I had.

Besides realizing what wonders that electricity provides for the modern world, I've also realized that you don't know when the electricity will go out. Sure; there's a good chance that the power will go out during a thunderstorm, but beyond that you don't know. You just have to have batteries and flashlights ready to go--if you don't have them, there are no second chances. The power's out and you're left in darkness.

I've also realized that's how it is with Jesus' second coming. He will come when we least expect it; in fact, he said that Himself! See Matthew 24:36--

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Jesus goes on to tell a parable of a master and a servant; in this case Jesus represents the master and we are the servants. Jesus says--

"The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of." ~Matthew 24:50

We really don't know when Jesus will come back. We may know that his coming is near, though: just like power outages come with thunder and lightning, we can hear the "thunder" and know that Jesus' coming is soon. What is this "thunder"? In the first part of Matthew 24 Jesus identifies this as natural disasters, wars, famines, and more. Seen any of that lately? Then you can know that Jesus is coming back soon.

Even though we may hear the thunder, we don't know when the power will go out. We just have to be ready at any time. That's what it's like with Jesus' coming. You can't "put off" getting to know Jesus. For all you know, you could die tomorrow! And even if you didn't, you don't know when Christ is coming. You need to be ready now, you need to be ready always.

How do you get ready, and stay ready? Study your Bible, and pray to God. Invest in a top-notch relationship with your Creator, Savior, and Redeemer. That's how you can be ready for Jesus to come. You don't have to worry if you're ready, you don't have to worry when the thunder comes. You are ready!

Are you ready? Would you be ready if Jesus came today, if he came back right now? The thunder's rolling...don't put it off. Commit to being ready, and having a good relationship with God, right now.