Are you ready?

Growing up, getting ready for Christmas was a big thing.  My mother will embroider cushion covers and tablecloths almost for the best part of the year to be ready by Christmas!  Then came the house decoration for even stars were not available in the shop.  We had to make them at home!  Then came the baking and preparation of other sweets and savories!  The choir practices and the carol service followed by carol rounds played an essential role in bringing Christmas cheer! Not to miss the new clothes and, of course, some crackers saved up from the Deepavali season!  The joy of Christmas was in the preparation and the anticipation!  Even today, as we get into the season of advent, we are called to look forward to the second coming of Christ and prepare ourselves so that that day will be a day filled with joy!

Jesus did not leave His disciples and us in the dark about such an important event. That is why He took the trouble of teaching us the different aspects of His coming using many parables.  We have to be ready like the five wise virgins, for we will never know the exact time of His coming or our home-call.  We have to be busy with God-given tasks until His return, as explained by the parable of talents, because what we do with our life here on earth matters to God.  What we have to be busy with is mentioned in Matthew 25:33-36.  We have to be feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick and those in prison, for the Bible says that whatever we do to the least of these brethren, we did to the Lord Himself (Matthew 25:40).  We cannot just stop with physical needs. We have to give the life-giving, life-changing Gospel to everyone around us! We cannot neglect personal holiness, for no one can see God without holiness (Hebrews 12:14)! Getting ready to meet the Saviour truly needs a lot of preparation!

My friend, are you getting ready? That is the question we have to answer today.  Do not neglect to prepare for such an important meeting or be casual about it.  Let our preparation for that event give meaning and purpose to our lives.  Then, that day will be a day filled with joy!

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