Twenty Mississippi - Ready Or Not He Will Come

I loved it ... weather... I was the one hiding ... trying not to get caught, ... or if I was the one seeking; ......who was trying to catch unexpectedly ... those that were hiding.

Although I have not played in quite some time, ......I do remember ... that the seeker, ......was called ... the "It".

And ... The "It" ......would close their eyes ... and count to 20 ...... giving time ... for the others ... to hide.

As you were hiding ... you could hear the seeker count, "One Mississippi ... Two Mississippi" ......All the Way ......To 20 Mississippi.

Then you would heed the cry, ....... Ready or not here I come."

Now...Four things ...were always certain ...in the game:

(1 Finger) - The "It" ... was surely coming

(2nd Finger) - The "It" ... was coming ... when they were good and ready ....and not before

(3rd Finger) - The "It" was coming .... weather you were ready or not

(4th Finger) - And If you were not ready, .... then you ... would pay ... the consequences.

Little did I realize as a child ... how much this game of hide and seek ......paralleled the return ...... The Second Coming ... of Christ Jesus. (Long Pause)

Beloved ... Paul exhorted the church ... the believers ... at Thessalonica ... and us today ... the importance of ... being ready.

Hear God's Word.

BIBLE "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well ... (Slow) of that the day." END (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2a)

Beloved ... The return ... the Second Coming of Jesus ... is one of the most repeated teachings ... in all of Scripture.

Paul was well aware ... of Christ's return ... and he shared ... this truth ... to the believers gathered in within the Roman empire.

As a matter of fact, ... Paul told them ... that he should not have to remind them ... about this truth ... again.

Christ would return ... the fact is obvious ... it is a certainty. (Pause)

It is much like the story ... of a tourist driving through West Texas ... who stopped at a gas station.

He observed a piece of rope dangling from a sign labeled ... "Weather Forecaster."

The tourist was curious and asked ......... "How can you possibly tell the weather ... from a piece of rope?"

"It's simple, Sonny," ... was the droll answer.

"When the rope swings back and forth, ... it's windy.

When it gets wet, ... it's raining.

When it's frozen stiff, ... and it has white stuff on it ... well ... it is snowing,

And when it's gone ...... tornado!" (Pause)

There are simply some things ... that ... should be obvious ... without even asking.

And ... The return of Jesus ... is one of those things.

The Scriptures inform us that the Messiah will return how? "...as a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

The question is not ...... "If Jesus will return?" ... but ... "When he will ... return?"

And ... Paul answers this question ... with a very clear response, ... (Slow and Loud) ... "No one knows."

Paul explains this ... by describing the time of Jesus return ... as What? As A thief ... in the night.

Just as a thief plans his entry ... at an uncertain time ... that is ... when least expected ..., so it will be ... with the coming ... of the Son of Man.

Jesus Himself ... proclaims this truth ... as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Slow) BIBLE "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." END (Matthew 24:36)

Jesus shares this warning ... (Slow) BIBLE "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him." END (Matthew 24:44)

Throughout scripture ... the "Day of the Lord" was the designation of that latter time.

That Latter Time ... when God would pour out His wrath ... on the ungodly.

The tragedy of this day of return ... is that so many, ... so many ... will be unprepared.

And not only will they be unprepared ... we are told they will actually be ... deceived.

And they also will be actively deceiving others ... as they proclaim, ... we have ... "Peace and Safety."

Many will be convinced ... that there is no danger when in fact destruction ... is at the doorstep.

Beloved ... We must live daily ... with an Attitude of Watchfulness ... with an attitude of ... readiness.

Hear Gods Word to us: BIBLE "So then let us not fall asleep as others do ... but let us keep awake ... and be sober; ... for those who sleep; sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night." END (1 Thessalonians 5:6-7)