“Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” (Revelation 16:15)
Earlier this week, I was standing in the grocery checkout line behind a pregnant woman who was chatting on her cell phone. She was telling a friend how excited she was about her upcoming birthing classes. As she talked, my mind wandered back to our first pregnancy and our birthing classes.
For 6 weeks, JT and I joined other expectant couples and learned what to expect in the final weeks and days leading up to delivery. As our class neared its end, our instructor encouraged all mothers to prepare a labor and delivery bag, full of the things we would need to make the hospital stay more comfortable. The instructor warned us not to wait until the last minute to pack the bag, since labor could commence at any time. As soon as I returned home from that final class, my packing began. Like a squirrel hoarding nuts, I hastily dashed around the house filling my bag with calming lotions, personal toiletries, warm socks, comfortable clothes, nursing pads, soothing lip balm, hard candy, and the many other things a pregnant woman needs. I wasted no time packing because I did not want to be caught unprepared when labor began. Everything was in the bag!
That day, as I scurried about filling my hospital bag, I thought about what people might be doing the day Jesus returns. The Savior will find that some already have their spiritual bags packed and thus are ready to go with Him. Sadly, He will also find those who are woefully unprepared with empty spiritual bags and therefore will be left behind. Revelation 16:15 informs us that Christ will return quickly and advises us to be ready for His return.
If your bag is not ready, it’s not too late to start packing. Fill your spiritual bag with admission, repentance, confession, and belief. Admit that you are a sinner, ask God to forgive you of your sins, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. Once your bag is packed, you can rest assured that you are prepared for your eternal stay with Jesus Christ. Remember, whether our bags are packed or not, Jesus will return. Is your bag ready?
© 2008, Andrea Thorpe. All rights reserved.
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