Sunday, April 29, 2018

Matthew 24:42-44 -- On Being Ready to Meet the Lord

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
Matthew 24:42-44


This is a good point.  If we knew exactly when the second coming was going to be here, we would remember and be ready for it.  The challenge comes in that we don't know exactly when, and so the only way to be ready is to *always* be ready.

I think this goes along with the whole idea in the gospel of changing our whole selves and the way that we think and act... who we are, rather than just apologizing for a behavior that we are likely to repeat.  It emphasizes permanent changes rather than temporary regret, and it means that when we consider repentance, we have to talk about mental and emotional and spiritual changes in addition to physical adjustments.

If we are changing ourselves on a deep level for God, then we are working on becoming perfect... a process that takes time and sustained effort.  We are working on building Zion by learning to be part of it, and preparing for heaven because we are participating in the act of purifying ourselves. ... and, we are always ready for whatever the Lord brings, because we are practicing our religion and living the gospel all the time.

To be always ready for the Lord's return sounds tough, but it isn't anything earth-shattering or dramatic.  It is those small, everyday, sustained efforts and changes that we are making for the Lord that prepare us.  It is daily prayer and scripture study.  It is working to keep the spirit with us every day and to listen to the Lord.  It is the effort to love others and to learn meekness.  It is when we face challenges with faith rather than doubt.

Today, let's work to be those people who will be prepared for the Lord's coming, no matter when it is.  Let's be ready, today and always, to welcome that change and rejoice to meet him, even if he drops by unannounced. :)

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