DEADLINES – CURSE OR BLESSING?

“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  Mark 13:37

A lot of people hate deadlines, but deadlines are good.
They can cause us to panic or they can help us to plan.
At the beginning of a semester, students are given a variety of deadlines.
Some students plan well, budget their time and meet the deadlines.

There are some who wait until the last minute because
they say, “I work better under pressure.”
They ignore the deadlines until panic sets in.
Then they do work under pressure, but not necessarily better.

How would a student handle it if an assignment were given without a due date?
They would have to complete their work and wait for the professor to call for the assignment.
Everyone would have to be constantly prepared.

Professors do not typically give assignments without clear due dates, but Jesus did.
Why would He do that?
Probably because He knows that if we are prepared daily,
we can enjoy a life that is blissful and peaceful while we wait.
We can experience a bit of heaven while we live waiting His return.
Why do some refuse to exercise self-discipline and obedience?
Because the world makes every effort to lure us away from what we know is right,
especially if we are believers.

He gave each person His work to do…for how long? – until He comes.
Instead of a specific time, He said that it could be anytime.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back
—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.”
Mark 13:25
His gave us a one-word instruction to,
“Watch!”  (Mark 13:37).

If you knew His deadline were today, would you be prepared or would you panic?
If you knew it would be in two weeks, what changes would you make?
It could be today or in two weeks.
Do you believe that?  Are you prepared?

Ask the Lord to help you to change from a “watchless” to a “watchful” believer.
Make a conscicous effort to alter your life as if you believed Jesus would return in two weeks.
Change all of those plans scheduled for “one of these days” to “today”.
If daily prayer, daily bible reading, and weekly church attendance are not a part of your life
then isn’t it time to change?
Think aout the old adage,
“If you were on trial for being a believer,
would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
Pray
“God, help me to watch today and every day
so I will be ready and watching when Jesus comes.”