Being Ready

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-40 NIV)

Former President Jimmy Carter has been in the news lately with his announcement that he has cancer in his brain.  At a news conference last week, he said he was ready for whatever was to come, noting that he had lived a very blessed life and was not fearful of death.  

Carter is perhaps one of the most famous Christians alive today.  His faith has been on full display ever since he ran for President in the mid-1970’s.  He is a well-known supporter of Habitat for Humanity and, even at 90 years old, still plans to travel this fall to help with a building project in Nepal.  What struck me most about what he said at his news conference (you can view it here) is that, as a result of his faith, he was ready for whatever comes next.

Death is inevitable for us all, unless Jesus returns during our lifetimes, but for those of us who are younger, death seems a long way off.  Thus, the temptation is to not give it much thought.  The unfortunate result is that we are totally unprepared.  I say unfortunate because, while we think death is far off, it can be just around the corner though we are totally unaware of that fact.  Recently, a student went with friends to a popular spot for waterfall jumping.  She was planning to have a great time.  Sadly, she died following one jump.  Was she ready to meet her Lord?  One can only hope she was.  And if the averages remain consistent with previous years, several students will die before this school year is complete. 

We are certainly not to fret about dying regardless of our age, but Jesus warns that we should always be ready, because we never know when the number of our days will reach their end (Psalm 139:16).  It could be tomorrow; it could be within the year; or we may, like President Carter, reach our 90’s before we die.  The truth is none of us know the day and the hour we will pass from this life into Eternity, so that is all the more reason to be ready for the inevitable.  

Today, you may not want to think about your death, but you would be wise to prepare because it will happen.  And there is one way to make sure you are ready: to place your hope and trust in Jesus and allow Him to be Lord of your life every day.  Just as President Carter is experiencing peace in the face of his impending death because he follows Jesus, so can you whenever your last day comes because, as a Jesus-follower, you will be ready.

© Jim Musser 2015