ARE YOU READY?

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:37 (NKJV)

Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of preparation, a time of moving towards the coming of the Messiah, a time of great expectation and great anticipation. The word “advent” means “coming,” and that refers to the coming of Christ in the past, in the present, and in the future. Today, advent gives us a picture of urgency and the need to be ready. To get ready is to consciously put things in order to achieve a goal. But what is it that we anticipate? What are we getting ready for? What do we expect to happen? Do we anticipate the end of the world? Are we preparing our hearts and spirits to receive the Christ into the world? Or are we preparing for yet another month-long shopping spree that some have called “economic first-degree murder”

People of the Old and New Testament knew the story about Noah. The story of Noah was popular and well known among the Jews. The world had become incredibly evil before the time of Noah, and God had vowed to destroy that evil world. Eating, drinking and marrying are good qualities. Those qualities are necessary for life. But the phrase, “eating, drinking and marrying” became a symbol for those people who lived primarily for the pleasures of this life rather than living a life of love for God and others. The problem was that the people had fallen in love with eating, drinking and marrying and those qualities had become ends in themselves. The purpose of their lives was only to eat, drink and marry rather than worship God and love their neighbours.

HOW DO WE GET READY OR HOW SHOULD WE LIVE IN THE MEANTIME? The unexpectedness of the time of Christ’s return does not mean we should then throw up our hands and not give it another thought. Because His return is unexpected we are not to forget about it, but be all the more focused on preparing our lives for that return.

We are to keep watch. This does not denote an intellectual attitude, knowledge of facts concerning Christ’s coming, but a moral quality of spiritual readiness for the Lord’s return. In other words, we must not be comatose Christians.

Beloved, our natural or sinful inclination is to sleep, is to shut our brains down, enjoy each day without a thought for who gave us the breath to breathe, no less Who died on the Cross as a payment for our sins. An active readiness is what God demands. As we get ready for the special day, we must also do the work of the watchman. We must be devoted to helping those who are still overwhelmed with darkness to find light. Remember the word of Paul to Titus in the 3rd chapter of Titus verses 3- 5& 8 “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. This is a trustworthy saying…………But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,…… And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”

There is a “must” to being ready and alert. If you aren’t, you will be like the foolish young women who were not ready when the bride groom arrived. They faced the consequence because they were locked outside.

As the season of Advent- the season of hope- begins today, it is a reminder that we should stay alert; keep awake, lift our heads and look to the horizons. Look to the future. Look for the God who comes to us, who came to us, who is with us and will come again and remain with us forever.

Have a joyful season as you confidently live through this New Year as a faithful, obedient and fruitful child of the Most High God!

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon

1. Igein Isemede.