Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. – Matthew 24:44
At a routine doctor’s appointment five weeks before our second child was to be born, my physician made a startling announcement. I needed to prepare for an imminent arrival—it looked like baby could be born at any moment!
The relaxed pace of “getting ready for baby” shifted abruptly into high gear around our house. A list of things to do was posted on the refrigerator, and quickly my husband and I checked off the items. The bassinette got that fresh coat of paint it had been waiting for, I packed my suitcase with things baby and I would need in the hospital, made arrangements at work, put a few casseroles in the freezer, and finished the little outfit I had been making to bring baby home in.
Because this was before cell phones, each day when my husband left for work, I would check to be sure that I had a number where he could be reached “just in case.” As we discussed upcoming activities and plans, we would preface our comments with the phrase, “If the baby hasn’t come yet…” Countless numbers of times I asked myself, What if it were today? Is everything ready? It seemed like nothing else really mattered.
Anticipation. What comes to your mind when you hear that word? If you are a Christian, there is one upcoming event that should inspire you with anticipation like nothing else—the soon return of Christ to this earth.
My husband and I did not know the exact moment our baby would arrive, but indications were that the day would not be far off. Jesus said that no man knows the day or the hour of His return, but the Bible tells us of many events and signs in the world that will immediately precede His coming. When we compare the world situation today to those Scriptures, we must conclude that the day of His return cannot be far off.
Exactly six weeks after we were told to be ready at a moment’s notice, our beautiful little daughter arrived. Those six weeks seemed to last forever, but my husband and I learned what real anticipation is all about. When we thought the time was actually near, we made sure we were ready.
Today, let’s take an inventory. Is Christ’s return the focus of our lives? How often does the thought of it cross our minds? Do our actions of today and plans for tomorrow revolve around that tremendous event? Let’s live in anticipation of that moment, and make sure that our preparations have been made!