"Behold, I Am Coming Soon..."

"Remember always your end, and that lost time does not return."  - Thomas a Kempis

It's springtime for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere! Though some may still be dealing with winter's last gasps, many are thrilled that warmer weather is finally coming around.

There may even be a few brave souls who have already begun planning their summer vacations. "Where will we go?" "What shall we do?" "How long will we be?" "What is our budget?" These being just a few of the thoughts that run across our minds.

The planning process is both exciting and stressful. So much hinges on details, and there's not a lot of time to get it all done; as does many other things in our busy lives. A lot of energy and effort goes into planning our vacations so that they will be fun and memorable.

It all sounds great, doesn't it? But let me toss something out to you. "How much time and effort have you invested in preparing to meet Our Lord in Heaven?" This really is a serious question, especially since your eternity depends on it.

Now, I'm not trying to be the spoiler of your travel plans. I just think that we probably spend far more time planning for a few weeks of vacation than our afterlife. And if you hadn't thought about it lately, you really should. You, I, none of us, knows when that day will come.

Luke 12:40, Mark 13:33 and Matthew 24:42, 44 underscore the importance of our preparedness.  This is why I cannot emphasize how critical it is to plan ahead, before it's too late. It's not that difficult to do so as you will see.

The most important point of preparation is to first get yourself right with God. This can also be seen as reconciling oneself. Remember, the only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). In many cases, people put this off until the last possible moment. I can tell you that this isn't the way to go.

Wouldn't it be better if you were prepared ahead of time? To be justified by faith and at peace with God is a much better state of being. Our sins must be pardoned, and our hearts absolved by the blood of Jesus beforehand. Let's face it, life is short and unpredictable with only a limited amount of time to plan for infinitude. 

Next, we must be on guard against the temptations of this world. We can't let things like prosperity, or hardship trip us up. Instead, fix your heart on heavenly things (Colossians 3:2). It is far too easy to start believing in one's own abilities, strengths, and talents and let God fall by the wayside.

These can influence damaging thoughts and attitudes which stifle the growth of heavenly desires. A better alternative is a strong and vigorous prayer life. As we stay in touch with God the chances of giving in to worldly things is minimized. We maintain hope of the awesome life to come!

Finally, we must always be ready for His coming. When this glorious day arrives, it will be too late for planning. Jesus will arrive ready to go! Therefore, it's up to us to plan, prepare, and be ready for Him. Then, we can welcome Him fully prepared in body, soul, and spirit. Amen!

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:10; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 5:7 

Prayer: Dear Lord, open our hearts to be influenced for good, and inspire us to touch the hearts of others, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey