June 7, 2022
The Almost Daily will be on Summer Vacation until August 8th. But fear not! You will receive a devotional each Monday through Friday from the excellent Mockingbird Devotional entitled Daily Grace. Enjoy! - Paul Walker
“Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near... Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:28, 34-36)
Few questions are guaranteed to produce anxiety faster than “Are you ready?” Are you ready for the exam? For the big game? Are you ready to get married? For the baby to arrive? Ready for the court date? Ready for the empty nest? Are you ready for retirement? Are you ready for...today?
Most of us, if we’re honest, do not feel ready for anything—at least in the sense of being “prepared.” And those of us who think we are ready usually aren’t. A wise person once said that if you wait until you’re ready to do x, y, or z, you’ll wait forever.
The question of readiness inspires panic because it creates in us a sense that our efforts will possibly not be enough, that there’s not enough time left before some impending change or judgment.
In today’s passage Jesus counsels his disciples to “be on your guard” and “be alert at all times” for the Second Coming. He doesn’t want them weighed down by worry or distraction. He wants them ready. Is this his way of conveying that classic sign “Jesus is coming—look busy”? Shape up or ship out? I don’t think so. Because it’s not doom on the horizon but redemption!
The judgment of the Son of Man is indeed coming, but that judgment isn’t like others. The judgment of God in Christ is forgiveness. Authoritative, God-initiated, God-sustained, God-fulfilled forgiveness. This pardon does not depend on your own perceived preparedness but on the trustworthiness of the Judge.
You may not be ready for anything else in life, but on account of the one whose “words will not pass away” (Lk 21:33), you stand perfectly primed for the only impending judgment that counts. So lift up your heads and let your hearts rejoice: No matter how you may feel at this moment, you are ready.
[David Zahl, Daily Grace - Mockingbird Devotional Vol. 2]
