Ready For the Next Time

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” I John 3:2

Another Christmas season is drawing to a close. Decorations will be taken down and packed away for another year. Nativity scenes will be dismantled and stored until next December. Many will forget all about Jesus and His birth in Bethlehem.

For those of us who know Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, it is different. He is not a baby in a manger, to be sung about once a year. He lives and reigns within our hearts and we worship Him all year long. We rejoice over the fact that He did come to earth as a baby, born in a humble stable. But we are thankful that He didn’t stay a baby, and that He was willing to go to Calvary, and die for our redemption. He rose again, triumphant over death and the grave so that we might have eternal life.

Not many celebrated His first coming, but one day He is going to return and there are people all over our world who are watching and waiting for that day. This time He will appear in the clouds and the dead in Christ will rise from their graves. We who are alive will be caught up together with them. He has given us the instructions in His Word as to how we can be ready for that day. No man knows the day nor the hour, but signs are pointing to the face that it will be soon. Just as we planned and prepared for Christmas, we need to plan and prepare for His second coming.

There’s a song in our hymnbook, written by Joan Ewing that sums it all up:

It’ll Be Different

The first time you came to a stable long ago.

They pushed you aside for they really didn’t know,

Who had come to their world to save and to heal,

 So, they followed you and your cross to the top of the hill.

But it’ll be different the next time you come, wait, and see.

You got a lot of lonely children and one of them is me.

You know we want to see you, we’re never really at home.

 So, if you’re waiting to be invited, Lord Jesus, please come.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for the hope that you have given us that you are coming back. Help us to be prepared, ready and waiting for that day.

Devotion by Anne Johnston