Keep Watch!

So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Matthew 24:42-44

We keep watch over our children. We keep watch over our important papers and finances. We keep watch over our households and keep them in order so that trash doesn’t overflow the can, laundry doesn’t pile to the ceiling, food doesn’t get moldy in the fridge, dust doesn’t accumulate, and our loved ones and pets don’t go hungry. And that’s just being vigilant about everyday duties. We go into high gear when we’re expecting guests, going to great lengths to ready our home for their arrival. Even though I’m not expecting guests right now, it still makes me tired just thinking about it!

But for all the preparation and care we give to our lives here on earth, how much greater the need to prepare ourselves for the Guest of honor, as well as for our trip to our ultimate destination—eternity. Do we keep watch for Jesus’ coming? He is definitely coming back; He said so in lots of red-letter verses in Matthew 24. Jesus foretold the future and promises He will return, although we do not know the date or the time on the clock when it will happen.

When He arrives, He’ll collect His believers and see us safely to our true, forever home in heaven with Him. Even more important than readying our homes and ourselves for earthly guests, we need to make sure we are prepared to greet Him whenever He comes back for us.

Being ready all the time for Him is a heart matter. He lives in our hearts; our hearts are His home. If we’re creating an atmosphere of welcome for Him in our hearts on a consistent basis, we’ll be unashamed by what He’ll find in us when He returns.

Are you ready for Jesus to return tomorrow? How about fifteen minutes from now? Two seconds? One of these days He will arrive in a split second; ask Him to help you stay prepared to welcome Him.