November 29th Advent day 3

³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

   ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.   Matt 24:36-44

Today is a Tuesday.  My busy day of the week.  On a Tuesday afternoon ten Mums and about twenty five children descend on my house for piano lessons.  Its a sort of Mums coffee morning, chance to chat type thing.  Piano students and their siblings all play riotously throughout the house and I pick them off one by one to give them a lesson.  Its chaos, but everyone enjoys themselves.   On a Tuesday morning, because I know all these people are going to turn up in the afternoon, I spend hours cleaning and tidying.  Putting away all the Lego so that small people don't break it and lose the pieces.  Setting the fire in the sitting room so that Mums will be cosy.  Clearing the kitchen table for those studious kids who want to do their homework as soon as they arrive.  It always takes ages.  And of course as soon as everyone has gone the place looks like a bomb has hit and I have to start all over again!

I prepare my house for guests.  I want it to look its best and be a safe and comfortable place for kids to play.  Its an effort, but it's worth it.

One day, maybe very soon, Jesus is going to come to my ' house'.   Have I put as much effort into cleaning and tidying and throwing out the rubbish as I do for my piano lesson Mums?  Is the fire lit for Him?  What will be on the table when He arrives?  Leftovers? Unpaid bills? A bit of a mess?  

I know its well corny to post Larry Norman at this juncture but.....:-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBFtWWeOQog

Lord,  there are days when I just want to neatly sidestep the rest of the story and skip to the end.  To the bit where we are dancing together on streets paved with gold and all that stuff.   Help me to remember that this life is a preparation for the next one.  That Your Spirit is getting me ready, helping me to prepare.  Putting my house in order so that when my time comes all will be as it should be and You will not find me wanting.  Help me to cooperate with Him as together we get ready for the wedding.