God’s Eternal Calendar, His Holy Cry To His People, BE READY
What Are We To Be Ready For?
First, we need to acknowledge where we are and what is ahead on God’s eternal calendar. The way we do that is by looking clearly at the world around us through the lens of Scripture. And by staying tuned into prophetic events according to God’s word.
Where are we on God’s Calendar?
We are living nearly 2000 years after Jesus told His disciples about the end of the age and the sign of His second coming in Matthew 24. So, at the very least, if we take nothing else into account than the actual time, we are 2000 years closer to His coming than the disciples He spoke with face to face on the Mount of Olives that day.
However, Scripture also gives us evidence to show us that the times we live in truly reflect the last days. One passage of Scripture that comes to mind when thinking about that evidence is 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
If you need more convincing, read my blog posts, Do You Feel Like We Are Living In The End Days? and Noah’s Story Parallels Our Own.
What Is Ahead On God’s Calendar?
Ultimately, we find our best answer to what is ahead in Matthew 24:44.
Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:44
Jesus told His disciples to be ready for His second coming. His return brings us such good news in that, we get what He prepared for us.
In My Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:2
And Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9:
But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor have entered into the heart of man the things
which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
The good news of Jesus’ return is that we get to be with Him and experience the “beyond our imagination” life He prepared for us. And that life dramatically overshadows the best of times known to us in this life.
Scripture paints a picture of what the days leading up to God’s designed and ordained end, will look like. We saw it in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
We also know that Revelation presents the prophetic unfolding of the last days of the ultimate battle between good and evil, or between God and His kingdom and the devil and his kingdom. So much of that prophetic apocalyptic letter reveals God’s wrath and the devil’s rage. And that makes so many of us so uncomfortable.
Good News
However, there is so much good news for the believer in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 tells us that God delivers us from the wrath to come. Revelation 12:12 says, For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
So God delivers us from the wrath to come. And while the devil is in a rage, it’s because he hears the tick, tick, tick of God’s clock closing in! Hallelujah! I can’t wait for his day to be done!
But, in the meantime, we must be ready for God’s designed and ordained end and new beginning.
Remember that the entire chapter of Matthew 24 records Jesus’ answer to His disciples’ questions about His second coming and the signs of the end of the age. On the heels of His lengthy description, Jesus follows up with two “be ready” parables in Matthew 25.
“Be Ready” Parables
Matthew 25:1-13 – Parable of the Ten Virgins
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1
This is so significant. Jesus immediately taught His disciples what it took to be ready and prepared for His return. He put the ten virgins in two categories: five wise virgins, and five foolish virgins. The wise virgins stayed prepared and ready for the Bridegroom by keeping their lamps filled with oil, and the foolish took no oil with them.
When I read this parable, I noticed that the Bridegroom said He didn’t know those who had no oil. So I believe the virgins with their lamps filled with oil represent His bride who continually replenishes their oil by spending time in His presence. For you and I, we continually replenish our supply of Spirit and Truth by getting in God’s presence through prayer and the reading and studying of Scripture.
Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the Talents
Jesus told of a traveling man who distributed talents to his servants according to their own abilities. When he returned, he applauded and rewarded the servants who took what he gave them and produced more. For the one who hid his talent and produced nothing, he took his talent from him and condemned him.
These parables teach the most simple and basic of lessons of what we need to know about being and living ready. First, being ready and prepared for His coming means continually being in God’s presence, filling up with His Spirit, His anointing oil of power, and seeking His presence and power through His word. Second, to be ready means to never hide what we have been given, but instead, to take what we have and produce more for His kingdom.
Personally, the thought of Jesus returning thrills me. I pray that every single one of us will be ready and able to say like Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:8
If we can, we will receive!
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown on righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:9
Amen and Amen!!! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!