Ready Or Not He Will Come

As a child I really enjoyed playing hide and go seek.

I loved it no matter if I was the one hiding (P) trying not to get caught, (P) or if I was the one seeking; who was trying to catch those hiding unexpectedly.

Although I have not played in a quite some time, I do remember that the seeker, was called the "It".

The “It” would close their eyes and count to 20 (P) giving time for the others to hide.

Now sometimes the seeker would cheat a little bit (P) I must admit I did (P) and would peek around (P) But then you could hear the count, "One Mississippi Two Mississippi" All the Way To 20 Mississippi.

Then you would heed the cry, Ready or not here I come."

Four things were always certain in the game:

(1 Finger) - The “It” was surely coming

(2nd Finger) - The “It” was coming when they were good and ready and not before

(3rd Finger) - The “It” was coming whether you were ready or not

(4th Finger) - And If you were not ready, then you would pay the consequences.
Little did I realize as a child how much this game of hide and seek paralleled the Return (P) The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Long Pause)

Thus Paul exhorted the church of Thessalonica and us today about the importance of being ready.

Hear Paul’s words to the believers gathered in Thessalonica.

(1st Reading From the Bible 5:1-2a) BIBLE Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well of that the day. END

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is one of the most repeated teachings in all of Scripture.

Paul was well aware of Christ’s return and he explained it to the believers gathered in Thessalonica.

As a matter of fact, Paul told them that he should not have to remind them about this fact again. (Pause)

It is much like the story of a tourist driving through West Texas who stopped at a gas station.

He observed a piece of rope dangling from a sign labeled (P) "Weather Forecaster."

The tourist was curious and asked (P) "How can you possibly tell the weather with a piece of rope?"

"It’s simple, Sonny," was the droll answer.

"When the rope swings back and forth, (P) it’s windy.

When it gets wet, (P) it’s raining.

When it’s frozen stiff, and it has white stuff on it (P) well it is snowing,
And when it’s gone... (P) tornado!"

There are simply some things that should be obvious without even asking.
The return of Jesus Christ is one of those things.

The Scriptures inform us that the Messiah will return how? (5:2b) "...as a thief in the night."

The question is not "If Jesus will return?" (P) but "When will Jesus return?"

Paul answers this question with a very clear response, (P) "No one knows."

Paul explains this by describing the time of Jesus return as (P) A thief in the night.
Just as a thief plans his entry at an uncertain time (P) that is when least expected; so it will be with the coming of the Son of Man.

Jesus Himself proclaims this truth as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 24:35) (Slow) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

Latter in the Gospel Jesus shares this warning (Matt 24:44) (Slow) “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."

Paul