But know this: if the homeowner had known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you must also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.    Matthew 24:43-44 HCSB

In this Scripture passage, Jesus uses the analogy of a homeowner needing to be sure their home is secure and compares it to the fact that, as Christians, we need to be sure of our salvation.

I have had one break-in at my home in the outside garage. I also experienced one attempted break-in. I can assure you, had I known they were coming, things would have turned out differently. I’m sure anyone who has been through that could say the same.

We prepare our homes to make them secure. We invest in security cameras, alarm systems, fences, gates, and even dogs for our family’s protection.

I even went so far as to talk to my 4-year-old niece about what to do in the case of a break-in while we were home. I was so pleased when we literally had a false alarm through my alarm system, and she followed the plan perfectly.

If we are realistic, we accept the fact that at some point we could be a victim of a crime. It’s not guaranteed, however, that someone will definitely target our home. We are, however, guaranteed that Jesus will return. The time of His return is often referred to in the Bible as the day of the Lord. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. We must be ready.

We must be alert and on guard. Peter said in 1 Peter 5:8 that we must always be sober and alert, for the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. We must always be prepared to stand against the devil and his temptation. If we are prepared to do this, we will be prepared to stand before our Lord and Savior.

We prepare for criminal attacks and try to do things that lessen our chances of being victims of crimes. But are you prepared for the day of the Lord? If the rapture were to happen right this minute, are you ready to go? Or, do you fear you may be left behind?

In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus speaks of a wealthy man who had stored up many riches for himself here on earth. In verses 20-21, he said to the man, “You fool! This very night, your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? That’s how it is for the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

God loves us, and He wants us to spend eternity in heaven with Him. He has given us His holy Word to guide us. He has provided good preachers and teachers to help us have a better understanding of His Word. But he will never force us to be prepared. He will never force us to do things His way. He gives us free will to do as we choose.

We prepare for many things in our lives here on earth, often forgetting just how temporary this life is. Are you prepared for eternity? That’s forever. Trust in God today. Surrender your life to Him. Let Him help you prepare for the things of this earth while you focus on Him. None of us knows when we will get to our first day of forever. We need to be prepared. Proper preparation is critical. Be sure that you do all you need to do today.

Have a great day!