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Waiting for Event to Begin

Devotional 9.28

Dear Faith Family, 

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord, (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). 

I clicked on a news website in hopes of hearing an update regarding Hurricane Ian.  Floridians (those in place and those who have evacuated) are probably most attentive to the whereabouts and the “whatabouts” of the hurricane.  Those of us in its projected path are also quite attentive.  The southeastern United States probably paying some attention.  The rest of the country?  Maybe some, but probably less attentive. 

Is it true that the farther one is removed from an event, the less attention is given to that event?  If so, then the closer one is to an event, the more attention is given to said event.  If our lives are threatened, our property is in jeopardy, our travel plans interrupted, our gas prices affected, and our football games rescheduled, we might then become proportionately interested in Hurricane Ian. 

As a nameless tropical wave east of the Windward Islands on September 19, most of us, can I say, didn’t know and probably didn’t care.  Nine days later we know, and we care (for one reason or another). 

I know, I know, get to the point, Karl.  Is this a devotional rooted in the word of God or a weather report?  Yes.  There is an off the charts tropical storm a coming.  Here’s my question: Are we attentive?   

As the news website video downloaded, I read these words: “Waiting for event to begin….”  How appropriate.  Hurricane Ian, as I write, is just west of Naples, Florida.  Many are waiting anxiously for the event to begin. 

What about the return of Christ?  How close is His event?!  Are we waiting for the event to begin?  How do we wait?  One of the ways that we actively wait involves our wardrobe.  Are we dressed for the event?  Paul challenged us (Colossians 3) to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  That’s the wardrobe of the upward bound. 

A quick glance in the mirror all too often reflects the wardrobe of this world.  You know, sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk.  Is it time for a wardrobe change? 

Trying, by His grace, to pay attention, 
Pastor Karl