How alert are you?

ON 23 April at 3pm the UK government ran a trial of its national emergency alert system for everyone with a compatible mobile device who had not opted out. The new system prompted much discussion and commotion. It may have stirred people into thinking about future emergencies and even privacy issues – but shouldn’t we be more concerned about our readiness for the return of the Son of Man, for which there will be no digital alert or opt-out choice?

We could well be in end times, according to scriptural accounts of how those times will be. Can we say we are truly ready? Or do we need to take immediate action and get our house in order?

Matthew 24:7 seems like it speaks to our current time: ‘Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world’ (New Living Translation). The chapter goes on to detail the persecution of Christ’s followers, people turning away from God and their hatred and betrayal of each other with rampant sin and a lack of love. Just before the end comes, it adds, there will be preaching of the good news to the whole world and those who endure will be saved.

Jesus warns: ‘So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming’ (v42 NLT). Earlier, he says: ‘No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in Heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows’ (v36 NLT).

In 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, and in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul, Silas and Timothy write to the people with great urgency, giving them further instructions and advice on being alert and ready.

It’s more than just watching and waiting, though. There is action to be taken first, including true repentance, receiving God’s transforming gift of salvation and living out a godly life. As Titus 2:12 and 13 conveys: ‘We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed’ (NLT).

Our sins may be few – or they may be many – but acknowledging them and giving them over to God is a great place

Reflect And Respond

How prepared were you for the emergency phone alerts?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5. Are you awake or asleep?

Listen to ‘His Mercy Is More’. Have you given over all your sins to God?

How are you building the Kingdom of God on Earth today?

to start. The words of the song ‘His Mercy Is More’ by Keith and Kristyn Getty assist us beautifully in this: ‘Praise the Lord, his mercy is more./ Stronger than darkness, new every morn,/ Our sins they are many, his mercy is more.’

It’s not too late to ask ourselves whether we are sincerely ready, or whether now is the time to prepare, receive full salvation and move forward in God’s grace to await that wonderful day.

LYN WOODS Editorial Assistant Salvationist