And very few prepared for His coming...
Mary and Joseph... of course...
Zechariah and Elizabeth... they knew...
Simeon and Anna... prophet and prophetess in the temple... they lived in a state of expectancy...
Then there were the Magi... they gathered gifts... and journeyed far...
But other than that... none knew of... prepared for... the imminent arrival of Jesus...
Currently... we're in the midst of our own Advent... waiting for... His second coming... His return...
The time He will come to fix the world... make it new... and fix everything in its place... the time for conversion... will be up...
Today's reading through... brings me to Matthew's record... of Jesus's words... regarding His return...
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars;
see that you are not frightened or troubled,
for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,
and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place;
All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs
[of the intolerable anguish].
Matthew 24:6-8 Amp
When He comes again... the whole world... will experience the birth pangs... the labor pains...
The question is... Will you recognize them... for what they are...?
Wars...
Rumors of wars...
Earthquakes...
Famines...
We have a few of those going on in the world today...
But... by faith... are we living with expectancy...? preparing for His return...?
Jesus says... He will return like a thunderstorm...
For just as the lighting flashes from the east and shines and
is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
...and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor].
Matthew 24:27, 30 Amp
No one had seen a storm before... and only Noah prepared...
Eight survived that storm...
How many will survive the next...?
And I wonder... Do I live in expectancy of His return...? in a state of preparation...?
Am I seeking Him...? wholeheartedly...? so I might be... light... in the coming storm...? bring comfort to others... in the midst of pain...?
Will others see...? and understand...? because of my preparation...? my faith...?
The signs are clear... His Word is true... He is coming...
Are you prepared...? for the One who says...?
Sky and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows,
not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:35-36 Amp
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