How to Be Prepared for Jesus Return

Last week in our series we looked at how to cure anxiety. Over the year, I have noticed that many believers seem to have some anxiety over the return of Christ.

For some, it is because they want to be able to live out and experience a certain aspect of life.

Others it is because they are afraid their life is not in order or maybe they have been delaying repentance and they fear the punishment that will come with Jesus return.

Whatever the reason we know Jesus is coming back. At any time Jesus could return. If heaven were to open up and Jesus to return in what state would he find your life?

In today’s text Jesus gives us a couple parables to illustrate this idea for us.

Luke 12:35 CSB

35 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit.

This first verse is the key verse. It sets the subject for Jesus teaching.

In many translations, the “Be ready for service” is translated to gird up your loins” In the day were men wore long robs they would shorten them by taking the hem and tucking it into their belt. This would allow them to work without tripping over their long robes.

In other words, it means “get to work”.

Luke 12:36–40 CSB

36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Two different reactions to Jesus return.

I. The Faithful live in Joyful Anticipation

In this first example Jesus uses the illustration of a wedding. In the Jewish culture, the groom would first have a meal with his male friends. Then once the meal was finished. A Procession to the house of the bride would begin. The groom would claim his bride and then bring her back to his house for the party to begin. Depending on the length of the journey the procession could take sometime to go and then return again.

It was expected that whenever they did return, the servants would be ready. They would have their lamps lit and would be found ready for work. They would be found ready the Bride and groom.

Much like in today’s society the bride and groom were treated like royalty on their wedding day.

Can you imagine after your wedding ceremony you traveled to the reception hall and once inside you see the shocked look of the event staff who hasn’t even decorated yet or finished cooking the food. The chairs are only half setup and the baker is measuring out the flour for the cake.

As you look at the planner, She remarks in a panic, Im sorry I thought we had more time. I thought the service was going to be longer.

some of you ladies look like your going to have a nervous breakdown just thinking about it.

That would be crazy right?

Now think about it in reverse the wedding party pulls up the event hall and the staff is their waiting to open the doors of the vehicles. They confidently escort you inside knowing they are ready for your arrival. They have been anticipating your coming.

In this story we are not the Bride and groom. We are the servants who are to be ready for the Grooms return.

When you know your ready, their is this confident expectation and anticipation for the event to begin.

Their is this joyful reassurance that you are ready.

Application:

But I wonder if maybe their are those who are hear today that the though of Christ returning soon brings anxiety and in-trepidation. Maybe in your heart you know that you have not been living in daily expectation for his return.

You see when we are not looking for his return our human nature is such that we will do little in preparation.

We will be distracted by many other things.

So my question is this this. If Jesus pulled up to the curb of our church and walked in. What would be his assessment of us?

Would he find a people who with Joy could confidently say, We’ve been waiting on you. Or would he find the look of panic on our faces as people who believed they had more time?

But in case you fear His harshness instead of being motivated by His goodness. Look what Jesus does here. Their is an unexpected twist.

Luke 12:37–38 CSB

37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants.

Look what Jesus does so unexpectedly. Instead of the groom being served he goes to his faithful servants has them recline at the table and then Jesus proceeds to serve them on His own wedding day.

Is one of those passages that a “wait-what” kind of moment. The groom is going to serve his servants

While we are laboring for the Lord it is important to note the character of the one we serve. Jesus is saying work for me now for a little while and when I get there. I will serve you.

Let his graciousness motivate you to push on. Understand that when we focus on the goodness of God. It becomes a joy to serve him. Understand there is a day that is coming when the object of our faith Jesus Christ will return and those who are prepared, his faithful servants will then have rest.

But then their is a second part of this parable

II. The unfaithful live fear of His return

Luke 12:41–48 CSB

41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?” 42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.

In this second parable we see a stark contrast. In the first we see Jesus serving(rewarding) His faithful servants in the second we see the unfaithful reward being stripped from them.

Upon first reading this passage my initial thought was that this passage was about saved verses unsaved. But that doesn’t seem to match the context. All are called servants and at one point they all seem to be serving the master.

But at some point these servants lost sight that Jesus is returning. They lose sight that he Rewards the faithful.

So then they begin to neglect the work assigned to them and begin to live for themselves.

I think in our minds we have grown to believe that everyone who is saved will hear “Well done my good and faithful servant”.

However, I believe that this parable teaches us differently.

So then are these unfaithful servants saved individuals. It does seem to appear so.

But I think this passage of scripture explains for us what Jesus is saying.

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 CSB

10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

As believers, what we do with our time and energy matters. How we serve God in this life will determine our reward.

We know that works do not save us but we are rewarded accordingly. We will give an account of all that we have done and didn’t do.

So then How do I remain faithful?

1. Recognize the character of the one we serve. He is a good God. His desire is not to see your works burned up but to reward you.

His desire is to reward you but this isn’t an everybody gets a trophy scenario.

2. Remind yourself daily that this loving God is returning one day for you. Get to know Him now. Serve Him now.

When we recognize the goodness of God and remind ourselves that he is returning soon our work becomes a joy and we are at peace with tomorrow.