“…keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42

My son and his family were coming for a visit yesterday. So after Church, I redd up the house real quick and looked forward to their arrival. After a couple hours of not hearing from him, I texted, questioning a time frame. He replied that a ship he was to bring in got delayed and that they couldn’t come after all. I thought of this verse.

Holy Week always leads me to read about Christ’s arrest and crucifixion. Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 record Jesus’ account of what will happen, along with what to expect at “The End” before His final return.   Jesus’ own focus and commands to his disciples, and therefore ME, are NOT on the details of specific events, but on MY attitude as they approach. His command as THE coming Lord and King is simple. “KEEP WATCH!”

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what that 2 word command to “KEEP WATCH” really means. I watch a clock at times, watch TV, and a host of other things that occasionally catch my eye. Somehow I just instinctively KNOW that Jesus is NOT talking about just looking around! His Word is RARELY that simple!

I ‘redd up’ the house in preparation for my son. Being from Pittsburgh AND of Scottish heritage, the term means to tidy up and prepare. Though not an overall cleaning, it means to make my house presentable to guests. Like putting dirty dishes into the dishwasher and removing my dirty socks from the living room floor! I think ‘redd up’ is a good Jesus word too!

Being READY for the arrival of ‘The King’ implies ME being ‘REDD UP’ as well! Jesus says so, MANY times, in the Gospels. The WORDS I speak are important. But if ACTION does not accompany those words, The King will judge me accordingly. He’s more interested in SEEING, it seems, than HEARING! To me, looking in, down and around must be considered preconditions to looking up! And as the clock ticks in a world that grows darker by the day, I must remind myself of HIS daily expectations.

Are YOU redd up and ready? The King is coming!