"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth… But you know him, because he lives with you now… and No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you." John 14:16-18 (NLT)

Recently I took an extended trip and, knowing that I would be gone for a month, my dog joined me. He had never been in the car except to go to the vet or to the kennel. Suddenly I thrust him into what must have been a most confusing experience. Sitting in the back of the SUV he traveled for two days, 1,000 miles. Finally we reached our destination – a house on the lake in the middle of wooded acres, completely different from his normal environment in suburbia. Here my little dog took some time to acquaint himself with his new surroundings. After two days I left him. My mother became his new caretaker. I had no qualms about leaving my faithful companion with Mother. After all, she had taught me all I knew about dogs. I knew her to be a trustworthy expert of "man's best friend."

I continued my travels. All along I knew I would return for my pet, but did he know? According to my mother he constantly watched the door, the place from which I had left. She knew he was checking to see if I would return. In the meantime she fed him, walked him, played with him and gave him lots of attention. He was in good hands. Ten days later I showed up. I cannot tell you how happy my puppy was to see me. He barked. He ran circles around me. His tail did not stop wagging. He did not want to leave my side.

I live a life similar to my dog's life. God created me to live on this earth and to worship Him in all I do. He placed me in the midst of confusing and sometimes disturbing circumstances. He sent His Son to teach me how to maneuver through life's trials and to offer me salvation. Then one day Jesus left. He did not leave without providing a care taker, a friend and counselor, one to comfort in time of trouble and loneliness.

Jesus has promised to return for me and you, if you have asked Him to be Lord of your life. I don't know about you, but I am constantly looking toward heaven wondering when He will return. I want to be ready. I want to live a life of obedience and integrity defined by holiness and righteousness because when He comes back I don't want to run in fear. I want to sing praises to Him. I want to run and leap and dance for joy before him. I want to sit at His feet and never let Him out of my sight.

Do you know that Jesus promised his disciples that he will return for his own one day? Are you aware that any day the clouds could open up and God's Son will step into our atmosphere to call the believers to join Him in the place He is preparing for us? Are you ready?

Dear Lord, the promise of Your return fills me with hope and overwhelming excitement. I want to spend my days living for You, so that when You appear I will have confidence and not shrink from You in shame at Your coming. Give me wisdom to live for You. I pray these words in Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

Do you know Him?

From the Pound to the Palace by Van Walton

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst

Application Steps:

Read Mark 13:34-37.

Click on the title to take a moment to worship with the music group Mercy Me as they sing I Can Only Imagine.

Reflections:

According to the above passage in Mark, have I given much consideration to the instructions Jesus has given me?

Am I prepared for Jesus to return for me?

How will I react when I see Him face to face for the first time?

Power Verses:

Mark 13:32-33, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (NIV)

John 14: 2-3, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (NIV)

Philippians 2:10, "…so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (NASB)

1 John 2:28, "And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming." (ESV)