“But as for that day or hour no one knows it - neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son - except the Father. Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return - whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn - or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-37)
Jesus, your last words of your public teaching, outside of the Temple, before your Passion narrative begins was both an encouraging pep talk and a warning: Be Ready! We in America live our lives individualistically. We believe we are independent, in control of our destiny, and the have the final say over our lives. We in Christ forget that we have a Lord to whom we have surrendered every area of our life. We did not independently save ourselves from not only the final hell, but the day to day hell we enter into when we choose to do things we choose in the flesh. That salvation was accomplished by Christ alone. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:16)
So to our Lord, the one who paid the price for our sins we will be held accountable. Not only in the last day at the return of Jesus the Christ, but daily as “The secrets of (our) hearts are disclosed..” (I Corinthians14:25) We all need to abandon, confess, repent and remove attitudes and behaviors we are actively involved in and harbor in our hearts as they are seen by God and we will be held accountable for them before God. “If someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21). Make no mistake, you will one day stand face to face with Jesus. If you live your daily life ready, alert, and prepared for that encounter then when it does take place you will be blessed to hear Jesus speak these words over you, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,” (2 Timothy 3:10)
My family, A week from today’s Ash Wendseday when we will enter into the season of Lent focussing on reconnecting with Jesus. I pray today you look at the readiness, alertness, and preparations of your life to stand face to face with Jesus when he returns, and in the daily examination of your heart. If you are caught up in an action, attitude, or behavior that you are not proud of bringing before Jesus, I pray today you bring into the light. Openly share and confess it with your pastor, priest, another minister, church member, spouse, or friend, so you can walk out of its darkness and into His light, ready, alert and prepared to encounter Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Need to talk to someone and have no where to turn, reach out to me. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers you got out of your reading of Mark chapter 13 with us in the comment box below.
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