Stand-By

I’ve only flown stand-by one time, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. You might get on the flight home, and you might not. It was “not” for me. I understand the value of doing stand-by, but I’d much rather have my ticket with the specific date and time on it. Flying standby might end in “victory” and it might end it “defeat” – waiting.  I do not consider myself to be patient, although the Lord is teaching me a lot about patience lately.

As Jesus is speaking about the future with His followers, He tells them to be on “stand-by”. In other words, be ready at a moment’s notice because He’s coming back. Since it’s been a minute since He walked the earth, we don’t seem to be on stand-by anymore.  I must confess that I don’t wake up each day wondering if Jesus will return today.  Jesus gives some instructions to His followers that actually apply to me too. Check this out….

³⁴ “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. ³⁵ You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. ³⁶ Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. ³⁷ I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” (Mark 13:34-37 NLT)

When I was a kid and I was misbehaving, my mom would ask if I wanted Jesus to come back and find me misbehaving. I actually thought about that some when I did something, I knew was a violation of family rules as well as God’s rules.  The more I understand scripture, being ready for Him is not living in fear and wondering if I’m “doing the right things”. It’s more about my heart and my surrender to Him. I grew up learning little about grace and a lot about the law. When I follow Jesus and His teaching, it was reversed – way more about grace and little about the law. The law was not abandoned or abolished when Jesus came, but it takes a “back seat” to Grace that came when He took our place on that cross.

I’m living my life on “stand-by” here on earth because I know that this is NOT my final destination. This place is preparing me for my final destination. I am preparing each day that I’m alive here on earth. I want my life to honor Him, so I’m surrendering my heart each day. I’m living on stand-by each day by walking with Him, by listening to Him and by living for Him. I’m ready to go when He’s ready for me!

Pressing On!

Dwayne