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DECEMBER 9, 2011
A STATE OF READINESS

“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the rood of his house, with his good inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the fields should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:30-32, NIV)

Here’s how a golf course falls into disrepair: the superintendent keeps saving every little job for tomorrow. It’s that easy.

In the seventeenth chapter of Luke, our reading lands in the midst of Jesus’ teaching in the day to come, that one day when His person and position will be fully revealed to the world. He will come in that day to gather His own, those who have placed their belief and trust in Him. What He was stressing to His listeners in this setting was simple: Be ready. Stop putting your preparation off until tomorrow.

Jesus began by explaining that this coming age had actually already begun and was thriving among them. “People won’t say [of the kingdom of God], ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is,’” He told them. “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

So what, then, were the people supposed to be waiting for? Essentially this: the coming of the King to whisk His people off to their palace (eternity with Him). And this: you’ve got one chance to be ready.

That’s not a popular message. We’d much rather do things on our own time. We’re happy to take the mañana approach, to not sweat it. Many times that’s just fine. It keeps us from putting undue emphasis on lesser matters. But Jesus was insistent. His return will be no lesser matter—His day will be “like lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other” (v. 24).

So He reminded the people of stories of warning. Noah and the flood. Lot and the fire. “Try to stick to your own plans, keep your own schedule, save your own life,” He said, “and you’re in trouble. You’ll lose that life in a moment by missing life eternal” (see v. 33). Yes, yes indeed, we must be ready, ready for Him.

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Jeff Hopper

December 9, 2011

Copyright © 2011 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday through Friday and is archived by passage and topic at www.linksplayers.com.

TODAY’S WRITER
Jeff Hopper is the editor of the Links Daily Devotional and COO of Links Players International. He played two years of college golf and now gets out about three times a month, except in the spring when he spends his afternoons coaching a local high school team.