Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
We try to recognize birthdays and anniversaries at church in advance and we occasionally see a look of relief on the face of someone who was rescued by the reminder. Otherwise, sometimes we get a second chance and do it the following week. Every once in a while there’s a look of terror when someone forgot and missed their opportunity, or there’s the stare of glare from the overlooked party (have you ever noticed how vivid the color of your beloved’s irises when surrounded by the whites of her eyes?).
Warning guys! Next Wednesday is Valentine’s Day! If you haven’t already made arrangements to make her feel special, there’s still time and it’ll be cheaper and less painful to be ready than whatever it might take to get a second chance. It might be a good idea to order the flowers today or buy and hide a box of chocolates (or whatever gift) so that when you’re reminded next Wednesday that it’s Valentine’s Day, at least for once you’ll be ready to pop the gift on her. She might not remind you until Thursday that it WAS Valentine’s Day and who knows how she’ll do the reminding. It could be a real day of reckoning (not speaking from personal experience here, but I have heard first-hand accounts).
On another point, have you ever thought you’d bought the perfect gift only to learn upon its presentation that she didn’t agree with you that particular day (also never happened to me, but other things have similarly backfired at me).
Jesus’ return will be a real day of reckoning for the vast majority of people, actually for all of us because we’ll all stand before his judgment seat (Matthew 7:13-14; 25:31-46; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Even some really good people who thought they were on the narrow way will learn that they actually were not (Matthew 7:21-23). They might’ve been taught they were OK, but they didn’t diligently find out for themselves what it took to please God (Ephesians 5:8-17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 11:6).
Jesus’ return won’t be like holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and anniversaries, that appear regularly on the calendar. Jesus will come at a time that we least expect or even when we don’t expect him (Matthew 24:36-51). Consequently, we’re to always be ready, but not like the guy who always had a box of chocolates on hand for emergency situations not realizing that the chocolate had become hardened and white with age and not fit to eat until she opened it (Matthew 25:1-13).
Our second and subsequent chances with God end upon our death or Jesus’ return, whichever comes first (Hebrews 9:27-28; Matthew 25:31-46). Those who haven’t prepared themselves will take on a look of terror and try to hide (Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 6:12-17; Luke 23:29-30). It’ll certainly be a terrible day for them, but a great day for those who are prepared (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Are you prepared for Jesus’ return? You’re actually to be the gift (Romans 12:1-2).
Leonard Lauriault writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]