Any Moment
God is returning.
He has been preparing for his children to come home to Him from the beginning.
The Father is watching the road, waiting for his children to come to Him, just as He did for the prodigal son.
We know that Jesus is preparing a place for us to be with Him always. But are we preparing for Him? We know what it means to prepare but are we actually living it? The Bible tells us how to do this, but are there actions to back up our belief in this Word? We have been hearing for centuries that “Jesus is coming back soon!” All too often, we hear this and allow our hearts to grow casual. “Well, He hasn’t come yet, so He’s late.” Jesus is not late and heaven forbid He find us ‘sleeping’ when He returns!
What is God Going to Catch You Doing?
When Jesus returns, He is going to catch you doing something. You won’t have time to clean up your act. You won’t have a moment to clear your search history, or change your attitude.
Matthew 24:44-46
Therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you don’t expect. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is the servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
I want to be caught serving, or leading someone to Jesus. But others will be caught gossiping, or arguing. Some will be caught in anger or bitterness, compromise and secret sins. Still others will be caught in laziness.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
“We must start living every moment as if Jesus could call us home any minute.” - Jim Boyd
We Are All Betrothed
What does your dress look like? Maybe it’s got beautiful beads sewn into it, or a long, flowing gorgeous veil/ Does it have some cubic zirconia blingage in there? That’s the problem with the Church right now. We have settled for cheap imitations that look pretty but are not the real deal.
We are so excited for the party at the end of the ceremony that we forget about the covenant at the beginning.
Matthew 25:1-13
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Is your lamp filled with oil? Are you one of the wise virgins? We are engaged to Jesus Christ and we are in the preparation season, where we still have time to make sure our lamps are filled with the oil of His Holy Spirit!
What Does Your Dress Look Like?
Ask yourself, what does your gown look like? Have you been traipsing through the mud, just hoping it won’t get dirty? The truth is, we already know what our dress is supposed to look like…
Revelation 19:7-8
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
What is a spot? Sin. Sin is a stain that mars your gown.
What is a wrinkle? A sin that you’re defending. What are you hiding? These are things that you don’t want Jesus to see.
What is the “bling” and bright arrayment? These are the good things you do, the “righteous acts of the saints”. Every act of obedience is a stitch in your gown. Everytime you serve, forgive, and love people, you are adding gold embroidery to your dress. Every time you are kind, act in love toward one another, and spread the Gospel, you are adding spiritual “sparkles” to your gown.
On the other hand, every time you sin, harbor bitterness, or compromise with the world, you are staining the fabric.
Ephesians 4:26-31
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
If Jesus came back today, would you be ready to meet Him? Are you taking grace for granted? You think you can live any way you want during the week and then come to church on Sunday and ask for forgiveness, and He’ll turn it all white again. Whenever you live contrary to what Jesus calls us to, you spit in His face. You help the people who beat him with a cat of nine tales. You help hammer the nails into His hands and feet all over again.
You allow spots and wrinkles and compromise to mar your dress.
Jesus’ Blood Cleanses Us From All Sin
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Matthew 26:28
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
I don’t want Jesus to come for me with my dress in shambles. I want Him to come for me with a spotless, beautiful, pristine gown. He came for us, even when we were still lost, stained with the blackness of our sins. I’m glad he still accepts us.
The Holy Spirit is Our Wedding Planner
You’re not preparing alone. God sent you a wedding planner, and his name is Holy Spirit.
John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Holy Spirit’s specific job is to help us prepare for our Groom. He is here to help stop us from looking like our dress has been dragged through the muck and mire of this world.
He convicts of of sin.
He guides us into all truth. - He is showing us what it looks like to be a pure, holy bride. He helps us as we grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
This means "I'm not listening to you.” It hurts his heart.
The Holy Spirit seals us for the day of redemption. You can grieve your Wedding Planner. You can ignore his instructions and convictions. He is just trying to help you prepare for when you see Jesus face to face. We have to yield to him, and stop trying to plow through with your own agenda. He knows what Jesus is looking for, and He is here to help us achieve that flawless gown.
“My Son Deserves a Spotless Bride.”
Jesus endured the horrors of the cross, spilled every drop of blood, and gave his life up to death for you. He rose again and went to prepare a place for us. He deserves a bride that is holy and righteous, who looks like HIM. The wedding feast is being set. The invitations have gone out. There are no more prophecies that need to be fulfilled. Every single prophecy is done, He is coming back very soon.
The only thing that remains is this question: “Am I ready?”
Any minute you could hear Jesus say, “Come to me all who are weary. Come to be, my faithful servant.”
Revelations 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
