Ready or Not, Here I Come!

Do you remember playing that game when you were a child, or still are? The game was hide and seek. One person was it, and everyone else went to find a place to hide. Hopefully such a good place that no one could find you. Many times we look at life that way. We don’t just go through it, we hide through it. Hoping that whoever is it won’t find us. We know that sooner or later we are going to be found in our safe little spot, but we are somehow feeling that we are not quite ready. One day, a day which had been planned for a long time God came to earth to visit his creation. He knew where they were hiding as he had since his first creation Adam and Eve had hidden that day in the Garden. He came to bring life and a better, more abundant life than man had ever known. But still they hid from Him, because He really was IT. He did not come to find them out and punish them for their deeds. He came to give them hope of eternal life by a sacrifice which He himself would make.  Let’s see if the effort He made was worth it. Once again God is getting ready to come, He’s been planning this trip for a long time. When the fullness of time is come, He will come whether you are – “Ready or Not”.

Galatians 4:4-9

I.                   The game is afoot – Whether you know it or not you are in this game. We call it the game of life. It is a difficult game, but like most games that are difficult they are that way because we have not truly read and understand the instructions. If we do the direction is clear – where to go, what to do. What moves to make and not make.

II.                 The instructions –

A.      The Bible is a very big book of instructions

B.      It is not complicated for those who want to learn but it is for those who refuse to read the instructions.

C.      We humans tend to do it first, and then when we can’t get it together, begin to search for answers.

D.     Its tough going back and doing it again because the pieces of  our lives wouldn’t go together right. There is truly only one solution. Go back to the beginning and start over. Disregard your ideas of how it should go together and work from the instructions. Cease to do it your way and follow the directions of the one who created the whole project of your life – God.

E.        You can’t skip parts and expect the finished product to look right or be what the creator designed it to be. So many times we leave out the parts we don’t like and decide we can do it better ourselves. God has a plan for your life but only His way will put you on the right track. Only His way will help you to be ready when He comes.

F.       Models – pieces which won’t fit. Some are not meant to fit where we try to put them, or at least in the order we put them on.  Many times I have ruined a model because I couldn’t get the pieces where I wanted them instead of following the directions. If you want it to turn out right – follow the directions.

III.              Back to the game of Hide and Seek

A.      Hiding – We do that well. But God always seems to know where we are. – Doesn’t He?

B.      So many around you are hiding but sooner or later they will be found. There is no hiding place where God does not know. No place we can go to get away from His presence. David knew that and recorded this in Psalms 139:

7 ¶ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light   about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the     darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

C.      We are hiding, He is seeking – He really is looking for you!

Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

D.     His love is offered to you, but you must then respond to that love in order to be ready when He comes. If you ignore His seeking and go your own way. He will find you, but you will not be ready

E.       Being ready – None of us know the day nor the hour that the Lord will come, but the season we know, the signs we know, and the time is right for His return. Don’t let another day go by without getting what you need from the Lord. He is here right now to help you. Turn the tables and seek Him. He told us to Seek and we would find. Come out of your hiding place and find Him. Don’t let another day go by without having Him living on the inside. Give your self up and let Him find you.

F.       Surrender to His Love.