Ramblings from Retirement – Get Dressed!

Ramblings from Retirement – Get Dressed!
By Retired Pastor Lee Hemen
April 9, 2021

Man it can be tough to try and get kids dressed, ready, and out the door on time. It can be especially if one of them is a preteenager (tweener) who moves at the pace of a snail or if one is so concerned about what she wears that it is impossible for her to make any decisions. Then there are the arguments about “why” “how come” and “where are we going”. I remember well when my father would come and tell us three kids to “Get dressed and ready to go. You’ve got five minutes!” My brother would grumble around bumping into things and looking for something clean to wear, my sister would gripe about that she didn’t have anything to wear, and I would just hop out of bed and get dressed and eat breakfast before the other two were dressed. I loved getting up and going places and you did not have to ask me twice.

In Luke’s gospel he relates that Jesus told the crowds “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Luke 12:35-40 NIV84)”

Far too many believers in our day act like those preteens I just described. They are not “dressed and ready for service”. Not only are they not dressed and ready but they have allowed their flashlight batteries to become corroded, weak or burnt out. Their lamps are not lit and have not been burning for quite some time. Why is this? Many have written ad nauseam about this and have offered all kinds of advice but to no avail. Lights are still out and far too many are wandering around yawning still dressed in their pajamas.

The truth is that while many think we may have entered into the final days before Jesus returns there are few who are actually ready, willing, and able to do what needs to be done in order to welcome Him when He does return. If Jesus were to come knocking, sadly most would either try and hide or try to make excuses and both are no good. Jesus bluntly states that “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.”

I am reminded of the startling truth Jesus taught: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV84)” This should give us pause. No one knows the day or hour when Jesus will return, no one only God does. So Jesus related that “If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

You may think you know when Jesus will return but you do not and in fact no one does. There is no author, theologian, self-proclaimed prophet, computer program, fire alarm, anti-theft device, or security system that can warn you ahead of time. The time is now to be ready and get dressed.

This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

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