Ready... Or Not?

“Ready…Or Not”?

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Getting ready, and being ready, is a part of our lives.

I say to Tess, are you ready? How long before you are ready? How long is it going to take you to get ready? Are you ever going to be ready? Then I say, I am ready anytime you are dear.

These verse tell us to get ready because Jesus is coming!

We know that Jesus is coming again because on the day he ascended to heaven, two angels told his disciples.

-“This Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven”.

The apostles repeated this promise to the church.

-“The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God…

Jesus himself promised us in:

-“Behold, I’m coming soon, and will have my reward with me...

Jesus told His disciples many times that they would see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of glory.

In the upper room Jesus promised, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you and myself…

Paul told the Philippian believers, our citizenship is in heaven, where we eagerly await the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, who would change our vile bodies to be like his glorious body.

Peter called this a “living hope”

Paul called it “the blessed hope” and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

There are 260 chapters in the New Testament, and Christ’s return is mentioned no less than 318 times in those chapters. One out of every 25 verses mentions the return of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus will come again to receive his church to himself, to right every wrong, defeat Satan and cast him into hell, and received the honor and glory he deserves!

The question is not, IS Jesus coming; the question is are you ready? V:40-Read.

In these verses Jesus challenges us to be ready for his return. Jesus gives us three pictures that teach us how to live in order to be ready when he comes.

The first picture teaches us to:

1. Live like an Eager Servant.

V:35-38.

The first picture is that of an eager servant, who is waiting for the return of his master.

Take a look at the servant in, V:35, he is dressed for service, his robe is tucked into his belt, he has the lights in the house burning, he is eagerly anticipating the return of his master. The servant is in a constant state of readiness; ready to act, serve, and welcome his master. The master has gone to a wedding feast, celebration, in those days the feasts could last for hours, or up to a week.

The servant had no idea when the master would return. Maybe he would come back that night around midnight, or maybe at 3 o’clock in the morning, or maybe the next day.

Whenever the master returned, his servants would be ready! All night long they would stay dress for service. That means they would have their sleeves rolled up, their boots laced up, and ready to spring to the door, and to go into action. The lamps were kept lit, so when the master returned, he would see the lights burning through the window.

That is how Jesus’ followers are to wait for His return.

It is not to be a passive, lethargic wait, but one filled with active service, continual preparation, and joyous anticipation.

Get the Picture in your mind; Warm light streamed from the windows, smiling, eager servants bearing shining lamps gathered at the door, and no doubt there was a snack on the table (coconut pie, or oatmeal raisin cookies and milk). “Welcome home, master!

We’re all so glad you’re back. Here, give us your robe. Sit down. Let us wash your feet. You must be so tired.”

This is the kind of service that we are to be giving to our master, the Lord Jesus! We are to be serving Jesus eagerly, and we are to be ready for his return at any moment.

When Jesus comes, He should find us doing what these servants were doing. We are to be serving, expecting; looking for Jesus to come again.

Are you spiritually dressed in the robes of Christ’s righteousness, with your waist girded for service?

Are you keeping your life filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, so the gospel is shining bright through your life? We need to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, and shining the light of the gospel.

The Lord Jesus may return at any moment!

Here the parable takes a surprising turn, because Jesus imagines that when the master returns; the master becoming a servant to his servants:

V:37-Read.

The master is so overjoyed with the faithfulness of his servants that he tucks his robe into his belt, invites his servants to sit around his table, and begins to serve them a meal.

What an amazing turn of events, the master is setting dishes before his servants, refilling the cups, laughing and celebrating at this late-night feast.

While this is a beautiful picture to us, the people listening to Jesus tell this story, could not imagine this happening. What master would ever wear a servants clothes, or invite his slaves to sit down and him serve them? What master would ever make himself nothing by taking the form of a servant?

A master like Jesus, that’s who!

Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. Jesus Christ, the master of the universe, the Lord of all creation, the King of glory, took off his royal robes, dressed himself in human flesh.

-“Jesus took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”.

The Lord Jesus took on human flesh served us by dying on the cross for our sins, and raising from the dead! Now he invites us to sit down at the table of salvation, and eat the bread of life, and be filled and satisfied with eternal life. Now, we are to be ready, serving, waiting for the day when Jesus will come again, and carry us to heaven, and girt himself and serve us again at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

V:38-Read. Jesus tells us again that we are to be servants, who are waiting and watching for his return.

The Jews divided time into three watches:

Second watch-10pm-2am.

Third watch-2am-6am.

Jesus is telling us to be ready, even at the most difficult time.

What are some times that correspond to the second and third watch in our lives, or the life of our church?

When you leave your driveway to take a long trip, you are wide-awake, happy, thrilled about taking the trip.

You have coffee in your thermos, your sunglasses are own, the radio is playing “on the road again by Willie Nelson”. Then as you reach your destination, you are excited about arriving, it’s going to be great!

What is the most difficult part of a long trip? It is when you are between the start and the finish of your trip. In the middle of the night, when everyone else has gone to sleep, and you are behind the wheel grinding it out. It is then that you are put to the test, and your endurance is called for.

When you step out to follow Jesus, the sun is shining bright, you feel enthused and energized, your heart is filled with joy and every step is easy and blessed. When we reached heaven and the saints of God are shouting, and we are welcomed home, our hearts will be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

But between that day when Jesus saved you, and when you get to heaven; you have to live and serve Jesus in the second, and third watch of the dark night of this world.

The life of Judas, broke down in the second watch; when he discovered that his dream of being powerful and rich, was not the plan of Jesus Christ.

The life of John Mark, who went on a mission trip with Paul and Barnabas, he turned back at the second watch when difficulty, and hardship came.

The test of our loyalty to Jesus, and the church, is not when the sun is shining bright, and the wind is blowing softly, and everybody is happy and energized. The true test of loyalty happens at the second and third watch. When everything seems common, ordinary, unromantic, nobody is cheering, or shouting. Will we serve, eagerly, joyfully through the dark hours of life’s second watch?

Maybe you find yourself in the second watch of life, marriage, parenting, as a church member; the question is will you be eager, joyful, waiting and watching for Jesus to return? You can be if you keep your heart and mind fixed on the one who is returning! This first picture teaches us that we are not to be sitting around on the church pew, dressed in white robes, we to be dressed in work clothes, with our testimony shining bright, serving Jesus until he comes!

The second picture teaches us to:

2. Live like an Alert Homeowner.

V:39-40.

Again Jesus urges us to be ready, alert, watching for his coming. We can all picture this scene in our minds. A thief arrives at this man’s house, and he is not expecting it, the thief breaks in and steals his stuff. If he had only known the thief was coming, he could have protected his property.

The point of this short story is you need to be prepared, or you will suffer great loss at the coming of the Lord Jesus.

V:40-Read.

The Son of Man is Jesus.

-“I saw the Son of man coming on the clouds to receive an everlasting dominion”.

The Bible can be broken down this way; Jesus is coming, Jesus has come, Jesus is coming again! The promise of Jesus return is in nearly every book in the New Testament. We are told that Jesus coming will be personal, he’s not sending someone else; he is coming himself. We are told that Jesus coming will be glorious, he’s coming on the clouds of glory. Were told that Jesus return is imminent, he could return at any moment. And Jesus told his disciples be you therefore ready…

Jesus compares his coming to a thief coming unexpectedly to rob a house.

-“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

A thief doesn’t announce that he is going to rob your house tonight, he comes secretly, silently, when you’re not expecting it. Jesus is coming the same way, Jesus says no man knows the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.

So, we must constantly be alert, vigilant, prepared for Jesus to come at any time!

Watch out for those people who say they know when Jesus is coming, they will lie to you about other things too. Date setters have always been around, and have always been wrong! There is nothing that must happen before Jesus can come, He could come at any moment; his return is imminent. Like a thief in the night, Jesus return will be unexpected, and for those who are not ready there will be great loss.

Are you ready…Or not?

Jesus says we need to be ready, because we don’t know when he will return. Being ready means being right with God by repenting of your sin and trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior!

Unless you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are not ready! How could you possibly be ready to meet Jesus if you have not ask him to forgive you of your sins? You are not!

Being ready also means having no known unconfessed sin in your life. Being ready means having a sense of urgency to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Being ready means to be serving Jesus, giving to God’s work, caring for the elderly and our children, and doing humble service with the abilities God has given us.

The Son of Man may come today, tonight, or tomorrow. Jesus says we must be ready; are you ready, or not?

Knowing that Jesus may return at any moment like a thief in the night, we are to live like an alert homeowner.

The third picture teaches us to:

3. Live like a Faithful Manager.

V:41-48.

Peter asked Jesus is this parable just for the 12, or for everybody. The parable is for all people, because Jesus talks about the faithful and the unfaithful when the master returns.

In the first picture the servants where praised for their watchfulness.

In this story the servants are praised for their faithfulness. Once again, the master is away from his house and appoints one of his servants to serve as his manager. The manager was still a servant, but was given charge of the Masters goods; and was to manage his household, and take care of the needs of the other servants. If the manager did his work wisely and faithfully, the household would flourish and he would receive his master’s praise when he returned. In fact he would get a promotion if he was faithful, V:43-44-Read. The reward for being responsible; is more responsibility.

A great example of a faithful manager is Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph was a good manager, and was put in charge of Potiphar’s house. The principal is that faithful managers gain their masters reward. Jesus is calling us to be faithful with what he has put in our care.

We are not the Masters of the house, we are not the owners of the things that we have: God is. Everything we have is really on loan from God.

We must exercise good stewardship, using what God has given us for his glory, his kingdom work, and the benefit of others.

The master entrusted his goods to the manager expecting that he would feed the other servants, and managed his household, and not squandered it upon himself.

In the very same way God has given us what we have to us for his glory, his kingdom work, and for others, and not just for ourselves. Here Jesus is teaching us to be rich toward God, and seek his kingdom. If you are a faithful manager of your possessions, you will gain the Lord Jesus reward.

It is an awesome feeling when you are working real hard and the boss walks in and finds you doing your job. What a blessing it will be if you are working hard, serving God, witnessing, giving when Jesus returns.

Jesus will reward you; by giving you a promotion, greater responsibility, greater anointing, and greater joy in eternity.

Sadly, not every servant is faithfully doing his masters will. This is especially true when the master is absent. How tempting it is to slack off when no one is there to check on your work. When the boss is a way, the workers will play. But sooner or later the day of reckoning comes. V:45-46-Read.

This unfaithful and foolish manager will be judged for his gross negligence, and wickedness.

The manager deceives himself into thinking that the master will not come home anytime soon.

So instead of serving his master, by serving the others in the household, he abuses them. He becomes a drunkard, glutton, and beats the other men and women servants.

What is wrong with this man?

He is an unbeliever, V:46-“will appoint his portion with the unbelievers”

There are people who profess to be believers, they use every Christian cliché, hold the Bible like Billy Graham and fool everyone into thinking there really saved. But if you consistently live a life of sin and disobedience you are not a true believer.

-“For this you know, that no immoral, impure, greedy person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partakers with them”.

The real test of your spirituality is what you do when nobody is watching you.

The master came back when this unfaithful, manager was not looking for him, and then judgment came, V:47-Read.

This servant had pretended to be a faithful, loyal servant, but when he had opportunity to do what he wanted he plunged headlong into, wickedness, and drunkenness.

The only reason he was living right, was because he was under the watchful eyes of another.

But the truth about who he was came to the surface, when he was given opportunity, he lived a life of out and out sin, which revealed the true condition of his heart. The master came back and he was judged, he was condemned with the unbelievers, cast into hell.

This morning examine yourself, what is the true condition of your heart?

Do you truly know Jesus as your personal savior, are you living your life as a believer, managing your life in order to please him who gave himself for you?

Are you ready, or not for Jesus return?

Child of God, are you using your talents, gifts, possessions for the glory of God and the good of others? Are you sharing the gospel, or silent about your faith?

Are you a faithful manager, or would you be embarrassed if Jesus return right now?

Charles Spurgeon said “always act just as you would wish to be acting if Jesus were to come”.

We learn in, V:47-48, that judgment is according to knowledge. The more knowledge we have, the greater our responsibility, the greater our guilt if we failed to live up to what we know. The coming of Jesus will be a glorious thing for those who are faithfully serving him, but a terrifying thing for that unsaved and unfaithful, person.

V:48-“Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required…

We have so much. We have the Old Testament, and the New Testament. We have the life and teachings of Jesus, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We have the apostolic witness and teaching. We have 2,000 years of the church’s testimony.

We have abundant preaching. We have Christian education. We have thousands of books.

Consequently, much is required of us!

The more you have been given, the greater your responsibility to use it for the glory of God! The thrust of Jesus message can be summed up in two words: Get ready!

Just as sure as Jesus came the first time, Jesus is coming again! Are you ready…or not?

You can get ready this morning, by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord! You can be ready by living a godly life, by serving the Lord, by sharing the gospel. God has given me a lot, how much has God given you? Let’s start giving back to him now, before he comes!

Live like an eager servant.

Live like an alert homeowner.

Live like a faithful manager.