"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven
 with a shout...and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
 air; and so shall we ever be withvthe Lord." 
 - I Thessalonians 5:16, 17

"20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15....5, 4, 3, 2, 1.  Ready or not, here I come," the five year old shouted out to his friends.

A friendly game of "Hide 'n Seek" had just began.  Now, the little boy was ready to start the search for his hidden friends.  Where will he find them?

With all of the talk of Y2K and the "end of the world," it's hard not to think about the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Oh, I'm not so much concerned about whether or not Jesus is returning at the beginning of the new millenium, but rather am concerned about His disciples...where will He find them?

Will He find us in a place that would be pleasing to Him or in a place that will bring tears to His tender eyes?  Will He find us doing His will, working for the Kingdom, bringing the lost to a saving knowledge of Him?  Or, will He find us in a state of indifference, out of fellowship, unconcerned with the welfare of others, in love with the world?  Will He find us completely prepared to meet Him, haivng done everything He has instructed us to do?  Or, will He find us "spiritually napping," neglecting the work He has given us."

A story is told of a man who stumbled upon an immaculate estate out in the "middle of nowhere."  He knocked at the gate and an elderly man opened the gate and identified himself as the keeper of the estate. 

"Is you master in?"  the stranger asked. 

"No, the keeper replied.  "I haven't seen Him in many, many years." 

"What," the stranger exclaimed.  "Your master hasn't visited you in many years!  Have you received a letter from Him or a telephone call or any message at all?" 

"No, sir.  I have not.  When he left I was told to have things in order when he returns."

"I just can't imagine it," the stranger continued.  "You haven't heard from your master in many years, but you have this place in such great shape it's as if you expect him to come back tomorrow."

"No, sir," the keeper continued, "I keep the place in order as if he will  return  today."

Christ has been gone for "many years", but He's coming back someday.  Our responsibility is to "have things in order when He returns!"  (or, when He calls us home) 

Where will He find you?

"20, 19, 18, 17...The final countdown has begun.  Just how close we are to "3, 2, 1" we don't know.  But, if you look at the signs, and listen closely, you can almost hear Jesus saying, "Ready or not, here I come."