39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
“If there is one doctrine I have preached more than another, it is the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints even to the end.” Charles Spurgeon
The Oxford Dictionary defines “ready” the following way: “Preparations complete; a fit state; willing, inclined or resolved; within reach, easily secured; fit for immediate use; immediate, unqualified; prompt; make ready, prepared, provided beforehand.” This is what we are called to be as we wait for either the return of Jesus or our own homecoming. It is described aptly as being “in a state of readiness”. I am reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy:
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Tim 4:6-8 (NIV)
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tim 4:16 (NIV)
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Tim 6:11-12 (NIV)
Indeed, as Paul challenged Timothy, we are to be a prepared people – training, pursuing and fighting the good fight of faith. This challenge is spoken to all throughout the Bible. God has always desired for His people to be prepared. Paul’s words again emphasize this point:
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 (NIV)
To be prepared, God’s people are to know and flesh out God’s Truth. God delivered this message to Joshua after Moses, God’s servant, had died and prior to the entrance of the Israelites into the Promised Land:
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Josh 1:6-9 (NIV)
God has delivered to us His Word, His revealed will. We suffer much harm when we disregard its truths and its power. It is alive and active and sharper than any two edged sword. Scripture states about Scripture:
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4:12 (NIV)
I love what the Bible Knowledge Commentary states about the above verse:
“The inner life of a Christian is often a strange mixture of motivations both genuinely spiritual and completely human. It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh. The readers might think that they were contemplating certain steps out of purely spiritual motivations when, as God’s Word could show them, they were acting unfaithfully as did Israel of old.”
Our hearts will deceive us. It is the Holy Spirit that illuminates God’s Word pointing us towards and teaching us the truth. As we approach the Scriptures we are to be prayerfully asking the Spirit, as the psalmist did, to:
18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalms 119:18 (NIV)
Jesus also tells us that the Spirit will teach us. We find His words in John:
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:25-26 (NIV)
The Spirit works within the heart and mind of the believer giving insight and understanding reminding us of Jesus’ words. Lastly, as an added benefit we find in Psalm 119:
165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalms 119:165 (NIV)