Being Ready

It was one of those mornings. I was feeling tired and down. I needed some extra sleep. So after seeing my husband off to work I returned to bed for some extra sleep. At about mid-morning I woke up and tried to decide what to do with the rest of the day. My first instinct was to stay in my pj’s for the day and do very little.

However, the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 came to mind. Why would this parable be relevant to me taking the day off? Over the previous couple of busy days I had let the housework slip a little and therefore not only was the kitchen sink full of dirty dishes but the bathroom needed some work. The following conversation went on in my head:

“Would you be ready if you had an unexpected visitor?”

“Lord, you know we don’t get visitors here”

“But you just cannot be sure, can you? It doesn’t mean that you are not allowed to take time out and rest when you need it but when you have a time available it is important to make sure that things are in order.”

Now I can tell you that I don’t expect anyone to turn up and surprise me at my front door. However the conversation carried on:

“It is just like the parable says about my return or your call home, it will be so unexpected. It’s not the same as housework but at all times be prepared for someone to call on you. You just never know when I send someone.”

So, I did the washing up and cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms. I also realised that doing these few things, resting and writing this story helped me to feel better anyway.

No one knows when Jesus will return, Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” it may not be for a couple of thousand years yet but we must be ready just in case it is in the next five minutes because God wants us to be ready to meet Him at a moments notice.

I am confident that if Jesus was to return tomorrow I would go home to be with Him, the real question here is are you ready?