Would You?

Would You?

by David Brenneman 

Would you live life differently if you knew that the King was coming today?  Yes, I know that the Bible says that no man knows the day nor the hour, but what if?  Would you be ready to meet Jesus?  Would you still be here because you have no real relationship with Him?

Indeed the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, is going to be returning just as the Angels testified to.  

You who've read or heard of the Angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judah, do you not believe these same Angels as they tell of the wondrous returning King?

Many, for their just as many reasons, believe in the birth of Jesus Christ because of the celebration of Christmas.  Some because of only the gift getting embrace it.  They're more in love with the feelings surrounding that designated day than they are the truth of the day. 

Would your day be lived differently if you KNEW someone important was coming to visit specifically with you?

Would you go on a cleaning rampage in order to give a great first impression to whomever it might be?

 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,  but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.  Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.  But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’  And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.  Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’  But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’  Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:1-13.

"So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;" Acts 1:6-7.

We all know the truth to that question.  We surely would go through great lengths to show our best side towards whomever was coming.  If we would do this for a human being, why aren't we more prepared for the King of Kings?

We aren't as ready as we think we are.  This world splits our priorities.  Work wants 8 to 10 or more hours of our lives.  Families want their share.  Friends seek their portion.  Then there's those we simply run into daily.  Somewhere in this we find time to eat n sleep. 

So where do you find the time? 

It might be that you're just going to have to get up earlier or stay up later than you normally would. 

Jesus sacrificed everything so why is it so hard for us to do the same?

I have honestly been blessed beyond measure by sacrificing some early morning time to be with Jesus.  My koo-koo clock ticks away, the silence of the morning.  My coffee at hand and my Bible to read.  

If the end of my days happens before the Lord returns, my hope is that it would be while I was already spending time with Him.  

We live in a culture, and it's a global culture, that puts people of various types up on a pedestal.  We attribute way too much importance to people who really have no clue that we're alive.  We misdirect our emotions, our passions, towards people and things that will do nothing for us in growing in Christ.

We don't see that we are being deceived in this.  It's a very very grand deception.  It's one that Satan's spent centuries perfecting. 

We are also arrogant enough to deny falling for it.  That too plays into the deception.  

All the while history goes tic-toc, tic-toc towards that day and hour the Father set for Jesus to return to take home a people who have placed their faith and trust in Christ Jesus for salvation. 

The clock is ticking down towards that day.  It's as set in stone as the birth of Jesus.  

YOU have the opportunity to live life in this here, this now, for the glory of God.  You have the opportunity to make yourself ready for Jesus.  

Thing is, Jesus will visit you night or day, 24/7 365 days a year if you would but call upon Him.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20.

"The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.  But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”" John 10:24-30.

Many times in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation Jesus Himself says "He who has ears...".

You who have ears, do you hear?  You who claim the name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, are you living it?   Are you REALLY prepared for that day or hour in which He IS going to be coming at?

Is your "house" this Earthly tent called your life, swept and in order?  Are your priorities in life honoring to God?  Are you living so much for you that you're neglecting the life in Christ you are supposed to be living?  

Would you be expecting Jesus or would you be in shock that He came?

You, My Dear Reader, can change things in your life right now.  You can get your life in proper order right now.  

Jesus didn't just give you a golden ticket to get into Heaven.  He offered you a nail pierced hand in fellowship with Him. 

"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 14:3.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.