Ready Or Not, Here I Come

TRANSITION: There some basics to keep in mind for a person who wants to be fully prepared for Jesus to return.

I. WE SHOULD BE ALERT AND WATCHFUL

Illus – Sometimes at Christmas we are alert and watch for sales. We receive wish lists and we watch the ads for good deals. As of Friday night, ABC News was reporting that this year’s Christmas retail sales were only up 5% over last year’s – the smallest increase in 3 years. To help bring in more revenue, K-Mart boldly pledged to stay open 36 hours straight until midnight tonight. There’s still time to be prepared, because we know Christmas is coming soon.

Being alert and watchful helps us get ready to observe an event that has already taken place. But Jesus said, that to be ready for him to come again, this is also what we should do…

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:42)

Christmas is December 25 every year. Easy to keep track of. What day will Jesus return? We don’t know. The key is to be watchful and alert all the time. Constant attention needs to be given all the time, because it could be any moment. After all, Jesus said it would be soon. Ready or not.

TRANSITION: Which leads us to the second item to keep in mind…If we’re going to be fully prepared for Jesus to return…

II. WE SHOULD BE MOTIVATED TO LIVE GODLY LIVES

The Apostle Peter makes it very clear…

You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. (2 Peter 3:11-12)

Illus - At Christmas children are told they shouldn’t be bad or they’ll get coal in their stocking. The prospect of Santa coming soon spurs them on toward good behavior.

The prospect of Jesus coming back has a lot more on the line than candy or coal in a stocking. We’re talking eternity. Heaven and Hell.

So we ought to live holy and godly lives. Don’t get too attached to this world. It’s not home – we’re just a passin’ through.

Peter refers to us as aliens and strangers here. People whose citizenship is in heaven.

That means if there are things we are practicing now that we wouldn’t if we were sure today was judgment day – we need to change them today. How would you want Jesus to find you on the day He returns?

Would you like to:

Be less tied to materialism

Deeper tied to Him through prayer

Would you like to:

Put an end to that secret little habit

Be passionately about sharing your faith

However that is, start living that way now. Make preparations. We don’t know the day, but He’s coming soon.

TRANSITION: Third, if we’re to be prepared for Jesus to come…

III. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER

At this time of year we say, “Merry Christmas” a lot. We encourage each other to have a nice holiday celebration. Christmas is coming soon, hope you have a good one.

Christians can do the same as we prepare for Jesus’ 2nd coming.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)