https://odb.org/2026/10/16/ready-for-christs-return
1 Peter 3:13–17 (NIV): 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
It was late fall, and my wife and I were going to take a trip by car. The day before our planned departure, it began to snow, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t taken the car in to have snow tires put on. The snowy, deteriorating conditions led to a long line at the tire shop—something I could have avoided with better planning.
Much of life is about getting ready, isn’t it? It’s vital for us to think ahead, prepare for what eventualities might occur, and make sure we’ve planned well. This is true of our spiritual life as well. In Matthew 24, Jesus pointed out the necessity of being all set for His later return. He told His listeners that they “must be ready” because He will come again (v. 44). (Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread 16th October 2026)
Remember the Parable of the Ten Virgins? Five came prepared with extra oil for their lamps and made it to the wedding banquet while the other 5 ran out of oil and had to go away from the waiting place to buy oil. As a result when the bridegroom came, they missed the wedding banquet. It’s a clear cut illustration that we always need to be ready as Christ’s coming may be soon or long but no one except the Father knows exactly when.
Like Dave going for a trip putting on snow tyres for his car, there is planning and preparation involved even as we wait for Christ’s return. I think besides sanctifying our lives and serving God, we need to sort out our personal hurts and traumatic experiences. We need to genuinely forgive those who have hurt us in the past. Our unforgiveness doesn’t disqualify the person who had hurt us in the past because his or her salvation is by the grace of God through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.
But if we allow unforgiveness to rule our lives we might end up with lots of bitterness and anger and hatred. Instead of love, peace and joy, instead of the Fruit of the Spirit. It is not for me to say whether we may miss the wedding banquet because of the condition of our hearts, but I believe this is all part of our preparation to get ready for His return. We don’t want to be disqualified because our hearts are not ready for eternity when He comes again. Always remember that part of our preparation for eternity is the moulding of our character on earth to be more and more like Christ.
As we enter the weekend and take a break from work, spend some time to evaluate our spiritual life and gauge ourselves whether we have good things to say to Christ at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ. What will we say as we give an account of our life to Christ? We could actually make it to the wedding banquet because we were prepared with extra oil (by the grace and blood of Christ) but we still need to give a good account of our lives. Did we respond to God’s calling for us? Did we fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives?
Have a good weekend ahead, everyone!
