Dear Christian friends:

"Better get busy; the boss is coming." Humans tend to be unfaithful servants. Even Christians have old Adam and need this warning: He will come.


2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

Romans 14:10, "For we will all stand before God's judgment seat." Mark 13:26, "At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." As Peter, James and John saw him in the holy mountain, so we shall see Him when He comes again.

So, when will we see Him? When all things be fulfilled.
1. The Gospel is preached to all nations.
2. Strange happenings in nature.
3. Terrible times.

The exact day is unknown. "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:32.

Our tendency is to think it will not happen in our life time and that there is plenty of time to get ready! This is a mistake. So Jesus gives us this warning: "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." Mark 13:33

How should we watch for Him? Our text says, "Watch and pray!" Watch what? Be careful and make sure that you are ready to stand before Jesus the Judge: that you are perfect and right to pass into the glory of heaven. Who is perfect and right like that? None. Psalm 14:3

Well, how do we get ready? By honestly confessing our sinfulness and then trusting in Jesus who fully paid for our sins on the cross. Being ready means living under the cross of Jesus every hour of every day. Daily confess sins, daily look to Jesus' blood for forgiveness.

"Watch and pray": Search your heart for the false, the proud, the vain and self-righteous thoughts. Search your words for lies. Search your deeds for hypocrisy and plead for mercy, not for justice.

If you are "watching" in this manner Jesus will not come and find you sleeping, that is, unprepared either in self-righteousness or in despair, or in happy ignorance.

Those who live thus under the cross will humbly and eagerly take up the work the beloved Lord and Master wants done: Missions, personal evangelism, words of mercy and love. They know the time is short and that honesty of heart and faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior is the only escape from destruction to come.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away" but my words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35 And in John 12:48, "the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

Are you watching and praying? Are you ready for your Lord's return? You are if you are hearing His Word and trusting in that and in that alone.

You are not ready if you are not diligently hearing Jesus' Word. And if you are not using His Word, you may proudly think yourself ready or you may still be in happy ignorance or in despair.

I plead with you to cast out your own reason and submit to the Word of Jesus which says: "All men are sinners and only Jesus' blood washes away that sin."

Amen.