Pre-Episode #1 : Don’t let them be surprised.
Welcome to Our Blessed Hope!
This is the beginnings of a call. A place for believers to find encouragement as we wait for the return of our glorious God and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m just rambling and attempting to get my head wrapped around the message God put in my heart. Thanks for listening if you do! And stay tuned for full episodes!
Transcript with edits for clarity
Pre-episode 1: Don’t let them be surprised
Hello and welcome to our blessed hope. This is a pre episode. My heart for this is to just share my heart and kind of get a grasp on the message that God has put into my spirit that I feel like I need to share. A pre- podcast word vomit, if you will.
A couple weeks ago, I was at work, and I was standing in the hallway with some of my co -workers. It was back to school night, so we were just standing there as kids and parents were walking through from class to class. I wasn't having a conversation with anyone. Felt it in my spirit to pray.
Praying and being continually in prayer is something that I'm working on. And something I'm growing in. And so I was sitting there, just praying in my spirit, doing the best I can to do that. Just sitting and kind of thinking my prayers is a little difficult, but I was doing the best I can, and I started to get this overwhelming feeling, like, these thoughts that every person around me, Is going to be shocked when Jesus comes back.
And I felt it pressed on my heart to not let them be surprised. I think in these last days my call, and maybe your call is, to not let them be surprised. And what that means is to proclaim the gospel and tell them about Jesus, call them to repentance. Because, it's either that, and the hardship that that brings, or the hardship of them getting to the end where Jesus has returned and, doesn't go well for them.
This urgency that Christ is returning soon has been growing on my heart. In these past months, I want to comment on what soon means. , so let me go back to Revelation....
I don't know....God, would you show me where the scripture is? Alright Google...
It's at the end of Revelation. Okay. I was looking at the beginning of Revelation But it is at the end and that makes so much sense. Okay This is Revelation chapter 22 verse 20 He who testifies about these things says yes, I am coming soon Amen, come Lord Jesus now this was written You 2000 years ago, ish, 2000 ish years ago and Jesus said, Behold, I am coming soon.
And so, as I open up, this door and this conversation about Jesus returning soon, hope and I pray that you don't hear me saying, That I know when Jesus is returning that he's, that I am certain that he's coming back in our lifetime. , but I do say with all confidence that he is coming soon. , but soon does not always mean what we think it means.
But knowing that the Lord is coming back soon creates a kind of a sense of urgency, right? Like Oh, he's coming soon, so we must be ready. And I believe that is the call for all last day Christians from the time of Jesus' ascension until now and beyond, that we live with the mindset that he is coming soon. And that we are ready.
I want to reference another passage. This is in the Gospels. Matthew 24. It might be 25. Hold on…
Yeah, so Matthew 25. This is the parable of the ten virgins. Starting in verse one.
At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn't take oil with them, but the wise ones took oil in their flasks.
When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. In the middle of the night, there was a shout, Here's the groom! Come out to meet him! Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish one said to the wise, Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out. The wise one answered, No, there won't be enough for us and for you.
Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves. When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later, the rest of the virgins came and said, Master, Master, open up for us. He replied, Truly I tell you, I don't know you. Therefore, be alert, because you don't know either the day or the hour.
So when I say Jesus is coming back soon, I'm not claiming to know the day or the hour, I truly have no idea, but I do know that he is coming soon and that we all must be like these wise virgins and be ready for our groom to return.
I'm not sure what else to say right now…
But I just pray Abba father that you would help us to be ready for your son's return. God, would you put it on our hearts? and in our minds just the Just what all of that means God, if there are things in our lives that are not in line with your desires and your will, would you so graciously convict us that we may repent and turn to you?
Shine a light in the darkness, Lord. , help us to forsake everything, every way, every idea, every thought, every habit, every comfort for the sake of your kingdom and the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, we long for your return. Make us ready. Give us wisdom. Keep us alert and awake. Even if you are delayed. Even if you do not show up in the clouds during our lifetime. Let us be ready as if you could show up any second. Help us be awake and alert, on call and on mission for you.
Lord God, as you listen to us, I pray that you would hear how much we desire you, how much we want you. How much we long for your return, Lord Jesus.
In your precious name, we pray. Amen.
