Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Coming Soon!

Whether we are in a theater or watching movies in the comfort of our living room on a DVD, we are almost certain to be bombarded with previews of coming attractions.  These short clips of movies that will be "Coming soon to a theater near you!" always show just enough of the movie to pique our interest without giving away the entire plot of the movie. The Christmas holidays is the time when the movie industry traditionally introduces what they hope will be the biggest hits of the year.

For us, as Christians, the phrase "Coming Soon" has a much greater significance.  We are looking forward to Christ's return!  Jesus told us that he would come again, but he didn't tell us everything.  He just told us enough so that we would know that it would be a glorious event that we wouldn't want to miss.  Neither did Jesus tell us exactly when he would be coming.  In fact, he said, "No one knows the day or the hour, not even the angels in heaven. Only the Father knows."

So, we are looking forward to his return, but if we don't know when it is going to happen.  What should we do?  Well, just like the movie previews  say, "Coming Soon to a theater near you" without saying exactly when, we have to be watching so that we will be ready when the movie comes to town. In fact, that is exactly what Jesus told us. "Be ready, because you have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up."

What should we be doing to make sure we are ready for Jesus when he returns? We should be doing the things that Jesus wants us to be doing -- loving one another, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, and helping the poor. If we are doing those things, we will be ready when he comes.  I hope he's "Coming Soon!"