September 24

Written by Bill Grandi on September 24th, 2019

My title for this devotion is Being Ready vs Ready to Be.

I have to make a confession. To confess this may lead some to call me a heretic, or at best as one “falling away from the faith.” I guess I’m okay with that, especially since I don’t think it does.  My confession is this: when it comes to the coming of Christ, I am a dunce as to how it will happen…and I’m not really concerned with that.

Let me explain: I believe Jesus is coming again. Of that I am absolutely, 100% sure. No questions. No ifs, ands, or buts. What I am not sure about is what people make a big fuss about: how it will happen, the circumstances surrounding it, and whether there are “signs” we ought to be looking for. There is no doubt in my mind NO ONE knows when it will happen. Not even Jesus knows. But it seems to me even those who agree with me (not that I’m asking them to) or my idea, sure spend an inordinate amount of time looking for “signs” that will tell them or warn them.

What is wrong with simply choosing to live a life of “readiness”? What is wrong with saying, “I choose to live a life pleasing to the Father so that when Jesus does return I have nothing to hide”? In Matthew 24-a chapter in the middle of this stream of thought-Jesus gives the example of two women grinding at the mill and two men working in the field (and elsewhere a husband and wife lying in bed) and one is taken and the other left. Theologians want to argue over whether that is speaking of a rapture or not. Frankly, that doesn’t cross my mind as much as “when Jesus comes you better be ready because you don’t know when He will.” I personally believe it is much more important to be His and to represent Him than to fret over a sign or when the rapture will happen. 

There is my confession. Take it for what it’s worth.

“Father, help me to be ready for the coming of Christ. But as I wait, I need to be ready to be Yours, to live a life of no worries about when Jesus will come, but to simply be ready when He does come.”

 

9 Comments so far ↓

  1. You know Bill, rarely do I hear a preacher talk about us “being ready.” Great post. Hallelujah!

  2. Ryan S. says:

    Definitely thought provoking… and humbling. I know opinions vary greatly on the WHEN. The fact of the matter is that nobody, NOBODY knows exactly when. The focus should definitely be on what am I doing while I wait for the when.

  3. Dan says:

    The early church fathers were very wise on what they included and excluded from the creeds, and they intentionally kept the return of Christ simple.

    From the Nicean Creed:
    “He will come again in glory
    to judge the living and the dead
    and his kingdom will have no end.”

    and the Apostle’s Creed:
    “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

    In my opinion, anything outside of that is pure speculation. Loving God and loving my neighbor should be what occupies my mind.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Can’t agree more Daniel. Thanks for the “creed” references. Sadly, those who follow those creeds tend to be some of the worst in looking for signs and predicting.

  4. Being worried or anxious about when Jesus will return is, to me, a grand waste of time. He said He will come again, I believe it, and my job is to live for Christ in the here and now until that happens.
    Great thoughts here today, Bill, as always.
    Blessings!

  5. floyd says:

    On point. The enemy loves to use prideful folks to go to war over doctrinal issues that should bring us together.

    I do love to have conversations with mature folks about these type of Biblical issues. When you spend a lot of time in God’s word you come up with a lot of nuggets and there are so few people you can actually share them with. Sad…