7 signs that you are ready for the return of Christ

On the day of my daughter’s wedding the greatest concern from the important people of the day was whether or not I was ready in time. There had been a lot of discussion on what I was going to be actually doing in the morning. Apparently I am well-known for getting ready at the last minute and this was a problem. I had offered the good thought that I go for my hair cut in the morning. I hadn’t realised how foolish that was in terms of time. I then suggested I go off for the morning and let the important people get on with things and I come back after I had enjoyed whatever I found to do. My suggestions were going from bad to worse. In the end I was permitted to walk 100 yards from the important people to a café for a full English breakfast. It was wonderful. On my own. Newspaper. Breakfast. And crucially, in sight of the important people. All went well. I was ready.

In the early 70’s Larry Norman sang, ‘I wish we’d all been ready’ and it is a line that has stayed with me all my life. Are you ready for Christ’s return?

“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” (1 Thessalonians 5 v 4-7)

Here are 7 signs that you are ready for the return of Christ.

1. You are not in darkness, v4. Israel was supposed to be the light (Isaiah 60) but their light had stopped shining and they were walking in darkness. Jesus came as the true light. Where Israel failed He succeeded.
2. You will not be surprised, v4. Though no one knows the date and time, His coming will not be a complete surprise to you, you know He is coming.
3. You are not a child of the night, v5. Venus is known as the morning star as the first to appear after the sun sets or the last to disappear before the sun rises. It heralds of course a new day, hope and a new beginning. At the moment when the night is at its darkest there is a belief that the morning will break soon and the morning star is that sign. His name is not Venus but Jesus! You are a child of the dawn, the new day, Jesus!
4. You are not a child of darkness, v5. You are not characterised by the darkness. When people see you they come to know your character. Character is so more important than your abilities. Your Father is not darkness. You are not a product of that. You are a child of God.
5. You are not like others, v6. This is you: I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, ⁷ to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.’ Isaiah 42:6.
6. You are not asleep, v7. This is a different word to the sleep of death that we have seen in chapter 4. You are alert, awakened to the world you are in. When it goes wrong it is never at the right time. It is either spoiling a positive time or it is a time where we can be the most weak. Be alert. Stand your ground. The next 24 hours starts now and you may not know what it holds but it will have no consideration to what is happening to you. You are not asleep.
7. You are not drunk, v7. You have not lost control, nor your confidence nor an awareness to the context of your life. Rather you understand what the Lord wants of you; you are edified and encouraged by Him and He is the Lord of your life as you live in this difficult world.