In the gospels, we are introduced to a man named John the Baptist. He was God's prophet to Israel, coming as the forerunner for Christ. He played the part of the hype man. Getting everybody ready for Jesus.
It's interesting, we don't have any sermon's from John the Baptist, or any long messages. His message was short and to the point. "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."
Basically, he was telling the world, "Jesus is coming. Get ready." It ended up being an awesome time of revival in Israel. Mark 1:5 says that all of Judea and Jerusalem were coming to John in the wilderness and getting baptized. There was a response to John's message. People didn't take lightly that the Kingdom of God was coming. They acted based on John's words. They were repenting of their sin. The nation was turning back to God.
We can look at this and see it as just a nice story, an interesting piece of history. Or we can see it as relevant to us today. You see, there is a similar message that has been given to us.
In Acts 1:10, Jesus has just ascended into Heaven, and two angels appear to the Apostles. They give the Apostles some inside information, a spoiler alert. The angels tell the Apostles that Jesus will return in the same way that He departed.
Jesus is coming back. He even said it Himself in Mark 13:26, "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
John the Baptist's message was a simple one, but a convicting one. "Jesus is coming, are you ready?"
We have been left with a message no different from John's. "Jesus is coming back. Are you ready?"
With identical messages, our responses should be identical to that of Israel at the time of John the Baptist. This message of the return of Christ isn't something to note down and then forget.
The return of Christ demands action on our part. Preparation is needed. We live in a world that loves to prepare. Preparation is in our nature. I went camping last weekend, it was one night in the woods in a sleeping bag. I took over 100 feet of rope, just in case. I didn't use any of it. It sat in my bag the whole time. But I was READY! If I had needed to tie a bear to a tree, or rappel down the face of a cliff, I was prepared!
Preparation is in all of us. How many of us charge our phones every night, even if it's still almost fully charged. Because what if we need that whole 100% of our battery tomorrow? We love to prepare.
Now I leave you with this. Preparation is in our nature, we long to be ready. Jesus is coming back. Jesus Himself said that nobody knows when. It could literally be at any moment. Are you ready? Turn back to God today. Don't wait. Get prepared for the return of the King.
