Ready or Not
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Introduction
Playing the game “Hide and Go Seek” as a child. The search begins when the person who is “it” says: “Ready or not, here I come.”
There is another “Ready or not” and it all about the Second Coming of Jesus—and it’s no game.
In Mark chapter 13, Jesus is answering a question posed by four of his disciples (Peter, James, John, and Andrew) concerning the end times.
Jesus addresses there question by telling them to be ready for the short term event (the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem) and the event of his return.
In Mark 13:32-37, Jesus is now talking specifically about his future return.
Text
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Transition
Key Points in this passage of Scripture.
Jesus will return (Second Coming)—but we do not know when.
We are to engage in perpetual readiness for Christ’s return—for he can come at any moment.
We are to faithfully fulfill our God-given responsibilities—we are to urgently do what he has called us to do.
In other words, Jesus is calling His followers (disciples, apprentices) to be ready.
Why is that important? What happens if we are not ready?
“Not ready” may speak of negligence in fulfilling our responsibilities as a Christ Follower.
We are not making disciples.
We are not sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to others.
We are not teaching others about the teachings and commands of Jesus.
“Not ready” may speak of the dysfunctional condition of our heart.
We are living in sin.
We are not loving others.
We are living more like the world than like Christ.
We are struggling to trust in God.
“Not ready” may speak of lostness of our soul.
We are not living within the saving grace of God.
We are a church goer—but not someone who has experienced the transformation of our heart. We are religious, but have no relationship with God. We are lost.
So, how can we be ready? Ready for Jesus?
The Follower of Christ must be Spiritually Prepared.
The Follower of Christ must be Spiritually Prepared.
Jesus said:
33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
Jesus is using military terms.
Four times Jesus tells his audience to stay awake or keep wake, and be alert.
And who is his audience (it’s not just the four disciples—Peter, James, John, and Andrew: it’s everyone. See verse 37 “37 And what I say to you I say to all…”
We need to be spiritually prepared for his return.
We need to live in Christ. Jesus said:
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus said: “Abide in me.” Remain in me; stay in me; reside in me, nourish your heat by me.
We live, not in our own strength, but in the strength of Christ. I can do nothing of worth accept that I do it through Christ who enables me. The Apostle Paul wrote:
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Living in Christ also means that I live by faith. I trust what Jesus says and does—and I live that way. Back in John 15, Jesus reminds us:
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
We are live in God’s love by following, doing, putting into practice his commandments: chief of which are to love God and to love others. It’s obedience to God!
Now obviously this is not an exhaustive list of spiritual preparation—and there is many things we could include in this list. But there is an aspect of spiritual preparation we often do not include. Jesus said a little bit later in John 15 these words:
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Our faith in God helps us to live courageously in the face of persecution. This can be a challenging stumbling block to the Christian. People will not always be favorable to the message of Christ. There will be those that will view you as an enemy. Do not be surprised or caught of guard. Be prepared!
Illustration: This summer I took a refresher course on sailing.
It was important that I learned principles of wind, sail configuration, and direction of the boat.
But a two week course does not give me everything I need to sail successfully and safely.
I need to continue learn and develop my skills.
Application: For the follower of Christ, training is called discipleship.
And to develop the spiritual skills (disciplines) of being a Christian, we need to be learning: learning about being with Jesus, of being like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did.
One of the reasons why this church exists is to provide effective opportunities to grow spiritually.
We must be spiritually prepared. Secondly:
The Follower of Christ must be Eschatologically Grounded.
The Follower of Christ must be Eschatologically Grounded.
Eschatology is a theological word that refers to the biblical teachings concerning “last things” or the “last days.”
Jesus is telling us here in Mark 13 that we need to understand that he is coming back.
Obviously, it is natural to want to know when. When is the Second Coming of Christ?
Volumes of books have been written attempting to answer this question.
But what Jesus says is critical for us to understand.
32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
What Jesus is saying is that there is something more important than speculating on when Jesus is to return.
What Jesus is saying here is that we need to be fully ready for his return. Why?
Because Jesus IS coming back. He will return.
Because it can happen at any point of time—even when you least expect it!
Because we need to be ready.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Since Israel became a nation in the present era, there has been a strong appetite for teachings on the end times.
Charts, books, evangelistic meetings were common place in the church.
When wars or political upheaval occurred, some preachers, teachers, and authors would tie present events with Old and New Testament prophecies.
But over time, many in the church have become disinterested or even disillusioned.
It is like the old story of the “Boy who cried wolf.”
But the eschatological fact remains and has not changed: Jesus IS coming back.
We do not know the day or hour.
But one thing we do know: we need to be ready for his return!
So, we need to be spiritually prepared and eschatologically grounded. But being ready for Christ’s return also means that:
The Follower of Christ must be Dutifully Engaged.
The Follower of Christ must be Dutifully Engaged.
To help his followers to understand what it means to be ready for his return, Jesus tells a story, a parable.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—
The parable
The man going on a journey is Jesus (his ascension, following his death and resurrection).
The servants are his followers, his disciples.
His followers are working (evangelizing, discipling, worshipping).
The doorkeeper is also his followers. They can also be church leaders and pastors. They are called to stay awake (teaching the Word, watching out for false teachers and false prophets).
The master of the house will return. Jesus WILL return.
What is Jesus telling us? He wants us to be fully engaged in the work of a disciple.
We need to share the Good News of Jesus to the world.
We need to live courageously in the face of opposition and persecution.
We need to help others become fully devoted followers of Jesus christ (community).
We need to be compassionate, kind, loving and generous.
We need to be learners and doers of God’s Word.
We need to be worshippers and being a people of prayer.
Conclusion
Bottom line, “He might come suddenly.” His coming is imminent. It could happen at any time, including today. You don’t want Him to find you asleep, unprepared.
Not doing the work He has given you. Oh, how tragic it would be for our Lord to return and find His church asleep at the wheel, neglecting the assignment, squandering resources, deceiving into thinking He won’t come today.
How tragic to say, “Tomorrow, I will get busy serving Him,” only to discover tomorrow is never coming.
So again Jesus sounds the warning “to everyone: Be alert!” If He said it once, that should be sufficient. That He says it over and over again should really get our attention.
“Be alert” and serve Him today. Tomorrow may never arrive!
Altar Call
Jesus said to the church in Sardis:
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Are you ready?
Are you spiritually prepared? (discipleship, practicing the way of Jesus)
Are you eschatologically grounded? (Do you believe Jesus is coming back? And it can be at any time!)(
Are you dutifully engaged? (Are you serving God and serving others?)
If not, what should you do?
Believe what Jesus said and what he calls you to do.
Repent! Confess and change direction.
Prayer
Final Thought
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
