Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Master of all Creation woke up the world with the gentleness of a lamb this morning and all of nature seemed to be at peace. These deer graze very close to the front porch, and they don’t necessarily run off when I step into their space, BUT they are intuitively on high alert prepared to run when it’s time to run. As I considered my furry friends on high alert, it reminded me of the Journey of Faith. In the days of Noah people were clueless about the predictions of the flood and they went about having fun despite the warnings. How sad it is to think about all those clueless people wishing they had listened to the Warning. And so it is today. Far too few people are like my furry friends, on High Alert and ready for the King because they don’t take the Prediction of the coming of the King seriously. Because I take it seriously I am forever on High Alert and relentlessly warning the world around me so they don’t get caught off guard like they did in the days of Noah. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

They are calling for temperatures in the 70s today in Virginia and many people are busy preparing for a day of reprieve from the colder weather. Shorts and T-shirts are ready to go and I’m sure there will be a few extra rounds of golf played today than there have been so far this year. One little hint of a warm sunny day and the world seems to shift into celebration – ready for fun in the sun that is guaranteed based on the predictions of man. But there’s another Prediction that doesn’t get nearly the attention OR the excitement as a warm winter day and it’s a Guaranteed Return on “investment”. It’s not a “maybe” – it’s not a “probably” – it’s a definitely! The King will come “like a thief in the night” when least expected and it will be like the days of Noah (if we aren’t careful) when He does. THAT’S why being on High Alert every day is non-negotiable in His eyes. He wants us to anticipate, be ready, and be filled with excitement about His Return! Jesus says it a lot better than I ever could: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” That sure puts a warm winter day in Heavenly Perspective!

I’m excited about lots of things in my life including this warm winter day, but what I am most excited about is that this day brings us one day closer to the Return of my King. He’s coming for me! He has a place in Heaven for me! He’s going to wipe away every tear and I’ll never know sadness again! He’s going to give me a new body and I’ll never know sickness or death! My debt is paid in full and I have been redeemed by the Creator of all! If that’s not reason enough to be on High Alert I don’t know what is! I am on High Alert and I’m Prepared for the Journey…until that Day comes, I’ll be doing everything I can to be sure that others are Prepared too.

How about you?