Understand this:
If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would
not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
you do not expect."
Lk. 12:39-40
One night
last week, Shaun’s dad pulled his car to a stop in a neighborhood near his
home. Two men abruptly jumped out, one man hit and rolled off the car while the
other screamed, “YOU hit my friend!” … Frightening minutes followed, life was
threatened, but thankfully in the end, the only thing stolen was cash. (Police
have are still in search of the perpetrators.)
Frightening.
Certainly,
this incident has been a “wake up call” for our family, making us alert and
prepared should something like this
occur again. But more profound, this incident has heightened our awareness to
something much more far-reaching: Uncompromising preparation for our Lord’s eminent
return.
God
tells us that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief
in the night. 1 Thess. 5:2
Jesus goes on to say, “When people are saying, ‘Everything is
peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant
woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.” (1Thess. 2-11)
Terrifying. (~That is, if one does not know Jesus.)
For those of us who do
know Jesus, our Lord goes on to encourage and ready His kids by saying: “But
you are NOT in the dark about these things, and you will NOT be surprised when
the day of the Lord comes like a thief! For you are all children of the light
and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. …So be on your guard,
not asleep like the others; stay alert and be clearheaded.” 1 Thess. 5:3-8
Weird stuff is happening all around us…and it’s increasing
in frequency and intensity (labor pains).
Are we readying ourselves? Or are we going to fall victim to
“the ultimate” in grand larceny, and allow the devil to steal our eternal soul?
Big hugs, as we together draw closer to Him, choosing to
care about what HE cares about.
xo ~Shaun
and Betsy
