Read: Mark 13: 24-27
Whenever I read this passage, or its counterparts in the other Gospels, I am reminded of the motto of the Boy Scouts of America: Be Prepared. Preparedness is a crucial part of our faith journey. In this particular passage, Jesus talks about being prepared for his return. In the post "Pay Attention" from a few days ago, we explored how, using this passage's counterpart in Matthew, we can so easily get distracted from the current moment. There is yet another angle we can take on this passage, or at least the theme of preparedness.
To get to that point, let me ask you a question. Have you ever had anyone ask you about your faith and why you are a Christian? What would you say to someone to did ask this question? It is not really a question that we can answer very well unless we are prepared for it. Said another way, Jesus invites and challenges his followers to to spiritually aware and ready to proclaim the truth of faith, even, and especially, in the midst of tough times.
I will be the first to admit, it is not easy to give an answer or reason for faith. On many levels, faith in Christ defies so many points of logic and the ways of the world. However, Jesus assured his first disciples that they would not be left to devise their own reasons and answers. Just a few verses earlier in Mark 13 (v. 11, to be exact), Jesus assures his followers that when the are brought to trial on account of their faith, the Holy Spirit will instruct them on what to say. So it is with us. Whenever we are asked about our faith, it is the Spirit that speaks for us. However, we must be prepared to allow the Spirit to speak through us. We make ourselves ready by spending time with God. We make ourselves ready by engaging those questions for ourselves...why do you believe what you believe? We have no idea when those questions might be asked of us. Because of that, it is even more imperative that we are ready to offer "a passionate and compelling answer for the hope we have" (1 Peter 3:15). In this season of preparedness, I pray that you might have that time with God; that you might be prepared to offer an answer for the hope of Christmas, and every other day.
I love this scripture and the vision it gives us. Several years ago I was enroute to a Bible study at AUMC one evening and had just picked up a passenger when lo and behold the hugest harvest moon I had ever seen rose in the east. It was such a bright color I could hardly look at it. I commented, "Hang on . . . this could be HIS coming" I waited and held my breath for several seconds before I realized it was just a very bright moon . . . but it gave me time to reflect on what if? And to share my faith with my passenger on why I was not afraid if that was about to happen. Love you, Jesus!!!!
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