I was in the Boy Scouts long enough to remember the scout motto: "Be Prepared". That’s a good motto for life. It’s also the way we must live our Christian life. Jesus taught a number of parables, the point of which was, be prepared.

When will Jesus come again to judge the world? Only the Father knows. So, we must be prepared. Jesus said, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matt 24:42). Millions of books have been written, bought and read which purport to tell us when Jesus is going to come again. Some have gotten rich on these books. But Jesus didn’t say, "figure out what day your Lord will come". He simply said that no one knows, so be ready for it whenever it occurs.

He taught the parable of the talents. It is a story about a man who entrusted three of his servants with some money to use for the master’s benefit while he went on a journey. Two of the servants used the money wisely for their master, the third foolishly hid his. He was not ready for his master’s return.

Peter warned that in the last days scoffers would come following their own evil desires rather than living faithful lives. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:4). They, and all who listen to them, will not be prepared for the coming of the Lord. Peter goes on to explain that God has not forgotten, and He is not slow about sending His Son again, but God is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but (wants) everyone to come to repentance" (v.9).

What does it take to be prepared? It takes faithful living. Being prepared is an active process of learning and doing. We must not stop either one. We must never get to the point where we think we have learned all we need to learn from God’s word. We need to learn more about how God wants us to live, and we must grow and mature in Christ and in our service to God and man. Being prepared does not mean sitting back and waiting! Remember the fate of the servant who buried the money put in his charge and sat back and waited? Jesus said, "Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:30).

I know how easy it is to be a procrastinator and in some things that’s OK. But not when it comes to being ready for the Lord to come again. Not when it comes to faithfulness!

Have you been putting off getting into, or back into, the habit of worshipping regularly with other Christians, attending Bible classes regularly, finding some way to serve in the Lord’s kingdom, giving generously and cheerfully, praying often, repenting of some sin or sinful ways? Is there something in your life that is keeping you from being prepared?

If there is, repent today! Get back into the light of faithfulness and be prepared. You will be eternally grateful that you were prepared when the Lord comes to take His children home!

-- Wayne Sharp