Are you Ready?

I'm sure you have seen many comments on what is going to happen tomorrow, May 21 of the year 2011. Some claim that Christ will return, some say they are crazy. Some say no way.

In Matthew 24:36 Jesus says: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." (Christ's return referenced earlier in the chapter) This verse says plain and simple that only God the Father knows when Jesus Christ will return. Later in verse 44 Jesus says "for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think he will."

So for those who believe that Jesus will return tomorrow, are they not claiming to be God? are they not claiming to be above Jesus and the Holy Spirit, because God's Word says that even they do not know. And to continue, they are proclaiming that a very important day in time is going to happen contrary to God's Word. God is NEVER contradictory to His Word. Ever.

So, it can be concluded that what people are saying about Christ's Return tomorrow is not true. But, Christ is going to return at some point - it could be in the next 5 min, it could be 10 years from now, we do not know. Therefore, we need to be ready for that moment, and spread the Gospel of Christ so that others may be ready as well. Several times in Matthew 24, Jesus warns us that we MUST be ready.

In 2 Peter 3, Peter also warns us to be ready. In verses 14-18 he says
"Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation...You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall form your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

God shows us several ways here how we can be ready. We must be diligent to be found spotless, blameless, and in peace by God. We have to work at this everyday - it is not an easy thing to do, but it must be done. God also says we must grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. In our relationship with Christ, we must always grow - standing in one place will cause us to fall away eventually. Strive to know Christ - dig into His word every day, commune with Him, pour your heart to Him. Jesus went to the cross for us, what will we do for Him?

Be ready for His return. Anticipate it every day. And in that time, it will be for His glory, not our own.

If one good thing has come out of this "prediction" it is that it causes us to think, "Am I ready?" Let us be ready every moment of every day, for the Glory of His name!