Tell a childhood Hide & Seek Story
Read Scripture (Rev. 22:12-17, 20)
There are more than 50 passages in the Bible that tell us that Jesus is going to return. In the short passage of text that was just read Jesus says twice that He is coming back and that He is coming quickly.
Trust me when I tell you that Jesus is going to return, People try and try to predict when this event will happen but the sad truth is they are trying in vain, we are told in scripture that only the Father knows the time, not Jesus , not the angels, not you or me and certainly not the National Enquirer. But what we do know for certain is this Jesus is coming back whether we are ready or not. We as Christian’s should not be surprised when He returns we have been warned time after time and we are called to be ready.
Now I know that people say well this has to happen and then this and then this and then He will come. In Mathew 24 Jesus gives the disciples signs of his return things that are going to happen before His return, some have already come to pass, some are happening right now and some are still to come. But here is what is important He tells his disciples “Let no one deceive you”
(Matt. 24:37) Jesus says that the coming of the Son of Man will be just like it was in the days of Noah. People will be going about their business, going to work, eating out at the restraint, getting married, having children everyone will be going about their normal routine. Then all of the sudden BAM the sky parts, the trumpet sounds and chaos will ensue. It would be nice to say that everyone will be ready but the sad truth is many won’t be ready they will act like they never knew Jesus was coming back. So He tells us “Therefore keep watch because you do not know what day your Lord will come.”
So companies coming, what do you do? Well most people I know when a friend or coworker calls and says “Hey I’m on the way over and I’ll be there in a few minutes” they get busy?
We start straightening things up, maybe light some candles, put on a pot of coffee or maybe make a jug of sweet tea. When we know companies coming we prepare, we get our house in order, we straighten things up. It’s just instinct, we want people to see us at our best.
It’s funny we take time to prepare for company in our home, sometimes even company we don’t really like, but we are to prideful or stubborn or just procrastinate on preparing for the coming of Jesus!
Look, He’s already picked up the phone, sent the text, posted it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter “Ready or Not Here I Come!”
Oh it would be grand if everyone would take heed to the warning, but sadly they won’t.
Verse 14-15- Blessed are those who have washed their robes, they have the right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying?
It’s sad to say but some will be left outside some will not enter. When Jesus comes if you haven’t already washed your robe it’s gonna be too late, if you haven’t already accepted Christ as your savior it’s gonna be too late.
I’ve heard it all and said it all myself “well I’m not ready to change I’m not ready to live for Christ I’ll wait till I’m older I’m having too much fun and don’t have time for that church stuff.” Or how about this one “I’m a good person, I’m not so sure I really need that Jesus stuff anyway.” There will be many that will not be ready.
How many people do we know that have met the uncertain fate of death at an early age.
How many teenagers do you know who have died tragically in an instant.
The truth is we don’t know when the end is, we don’t know when Christ is coming back and we don’t know when we will die. But, we have no excuse for not being ready, we know that Jesus is coming because we have been told time and time again and we have been told to be ready.
Luke 12:40 Jesus tells us be ready: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Rev 3 Jesus says “I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”
I want you to hear what I am saying today, when Jesus returns it will be too late, there will not be time for repentance once the trumpet sounds. Take heed to what scripture says in 1st. Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
A twinkling of the eye is the time it takes light to enter the eye and travel to the back of the eye and be reflected out of the front of the eye. It takes this process about 1/6 millionth of a second.
The writer could have just as easily said two shakes of a rabbit’s foot, or in a flash, or jiffy. The exact amount of time in seconds or nanoseconds isn’t what is relevant the fact that it is going to happen so fast that there will be no time to repent is what is relevant.
And really think about it we have known for over 2000 years that Jesus was coming back, we should already be ready we have had plenty of time. Quit letting the devil fool you by telling you that there is plenty of time before Jesus returns.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
My friend salvation is for everyone, every single person that is breathing on the face of the earth has an opportunity to wash their robes , you don’t have to be part of a select group or a chosen few the offer of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is for everyone. As Christian we need to be sharing the Good News with everyone we meet by words, actions and deeds. We must be the hands and feet of Christ to a broken and hurting world it’s up to us to do our part.
We as a church should develop an urgency to witness to the hurting and the lost time is short. In verse 20 Jesus says “Behold I come quickly”.
We need to be living like each day is our last. If you’re not ready don’t wait any longer , if you’re here today and haven’t accepted Jesus as your savior don’t put it off any longer.
Jesus is coming back Ready or Not!!!
