THAT TIME WILL COME – 01-17-2022

THAT TIME WILL COME
January 17, 2022

Prayer: Dear Lord, I want to be ready when You come again! And in this new year, I want to be ready and listening to Your voice to lead me to enjoy all You have given with peace and joy. Thank You, Lord. Amen

Scripture: No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. Mark 13:32-33 NIV

Transitions can be very difficult. As a teacher, I learned that transitions went much smoother if the students had earlier notification that they were coming. Students also have a need for a schedule or calendar. They want to know when they are going to eat, play, read, and go outside. Later in school they need to know when the bells are going to ring, what their class schedule is, what days they have off, etc.

I learned to forewarn my classes in intervals of upcoming changes so that they could wrap up and prepare for change. I still do this with my family, marking off time until we have to go somewhere or do something. If I mark down time from thirty minutes to ten minutes to three minutes, I expect you to have your shoes on when it is time to go.

As teachers, we usually are warned when a fire drill is scheduled so we can be prepared for it. Too bad life does not happen that way. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the interruptions, mishaps, and changes in routine had to be posted for us somewhere at least twenty-four hours before they happened? Or would we just stay in bed if we knew it was coming?!?!

How much time do you generally take to prepare for a change? Do you do well when someone wants you to stop doing one thing abruptly and do something completely different immediately? How much thought, discussion, and meeting time has to go into any changes at your school or even in your home? Are you a planner, a go with the flow, or a fly by the seat of your pants kind of person?

God had given His people so many ways to recognize His Son’s arrival. They had been waiting for Him for thousands of years but when He came, they were so wrapped up in their traditions, positions, and expectations that they missed Him. Next time, no one will be able to deny that it is Him. There will be no manger and no baby, but there definitely  will be an angel’s announcement as He comes from the clouds for all to see.

Scripture tells us that no one knows the day or the hour that Christ will return. We are just told to be on guard and alert. We cannot put it on our calendar and circle the date. We will not know because of a certain season or even circumstance. There is no countdown like on New Year’s Eve, and we do not hear an occasional voice marking intervals of time so we can prepare. God says, “Be ready.” Consider yourself forewarned – if you have been putting off an apology, a testimony, a mission trip, an “I love you,” a prayer, or anything else you hope to do in this lifetime, don’t wait another day. We are never sure that we have one.

It could be tomorrow; it could be next year; or it could be a thousand years from now. One thing I know for sure is that when the time comes, “in a twinkling of an eye,” we won’t even have time to put our shoes on – chances are we’ll be leaving them all behind anyway – even our favorite pair!

My prayer for you is that you would be ready for that time to come.

Copyright Kathy Branzell.  To connect with the author, email [email protected]

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