Do We Wait in Readiness?
JESUS said:
(Luke 12:35 NASB)
“Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit.”
Since the beginning, God has been working to build His church. Maybe we envision a mega church building situated outside a vast city, one filled with wealthy people by the world’s standard, people who can afford to do whatever they choose to do, maybe people who enter their mega building each week because “it’s the thing to do: Attend Church.”
—OR—
Maybe we envision a ragtag group of people who do not own any property, who meet for church in whatever place they can find, maybe being forced to move week-to-week, barely scraping by.
The First Church of Affluence?
Or
The First Church of Nowhere?
- Do we wish to attend either of those churches?
- Do we wish to place our name on either church roll?
- Should we desire to “be” part of either church?
No, most definitely not!
So then, what do we need to do in order to “become” part of God’s church, the one He has been building since the beginning?
Why did JESUS say these words?
(Luke 12:35 NASB)
“Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit.”
God’s Church—Do we belong?
- It’s not a book club.
- It’s not a sanctuary.
- It’s not filled with all one color, nationality, or language.
- It’s not tidy and neat because it’s filled with people who are sinful by nature.
God’s church is filled with messy people.
God’s church—filled with His children—people who love the Father & one another.
- God’s church is comprised of the “bride of Christ.”
- God’s church is filled with saints of God who walk in readiness & obedience.
- God’s church must be Faithful Followers who walk within God’s will, led by His Holy Spirit.
God’s church is comprised of an eclectic group: Unique/Different/Peculiar/Set Apart.
God’s church is prepared and they keep their lamps filled with oil and ready.
Therefore, Jesus reminded them:
(Luke 12:35-38 NASB)
“Be prepared, and keep your lamps lit.
You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those slaves who the master will find on the alert when he comes;
truly I say to you, that he will prepare himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come up and serve them.
Whether he comes in the second watch, [9pm to midnight] or even in the third, [midnight to 3am] and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.”
I read a story about President Abe Lincoln, one often remembered as “Honest Abe.” The story goes that Abe saw a woman for sale on the slavery block and he purchased her. After he paid her price, she was free. At that time, her previous owner had no choice but to let her go free because he no longer owned her.
When this transaction occurred, immediately the slave (the woman) ran toward Abe who was walking away from the crowd.
“Master, where shall I go? What shall I do? When shall I rise to work? How should I work, & how long should I work?”
Abe paused in his walking to turn and look toward the slave. Looking squarely at her, he said:
“That’s entirely up to you. From now on, you are free of your baggage, free of your burden, free to go, free to do, & free to be who you desire to be.”
Then Abe turned and began to walk away (again) from the crowd.
The slave woman (now free to go & do as she pleased) fell into step beside Abe and was heard saying these words as they walked together:
“If I am truly free, then I am following you.”
JESUS said:
(Luke 12: 40-44 NASB)
“You too, be ready;
because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think He will.”
[the apostle] “Peter said,
“Lord, are You telling this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”
And the Lord said,
“Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?
Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
- God offers freedom!
- God’s Grace—So Amazing!
- God’s dwelling, God’s church—It is found with mankind—Who Wait for His return in Readiness!
All who want to join, to come into God’s family must only turn toward God and say, “God, I want You; I believe in Your Son; I believe in Jesus’ resurrection; I accept Your truth; I confess my sins against You. Please forgive me & save me.”
Then, just as the slave woman (now free to go & do as she pleased) the church falls into step beside Father God and speaks these words as they walk together:
“If I am truly free, then I am following you.”
Jesus will come again, and since we do not know when, We Must: BE PREPARED & BE FAITHFUL!
“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”
(Luke 12: 43 NASB)