Maybe Today Lord

By Debra Torres
​The young ladies and gentlemen in our high school’s prom court looked strikingly regal in their long gowns and tuxedos. 

Standing on raised platforms up on the stage, they created the 

perfect picture for the on-looking crowd of parents, relatives and friends.

I’ve been to a few promenades now, and I know the routine. The presentation of the prom court is always a nice finishing touch to the event.

But things went a little off schedule this day. And something happened that I think I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

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You see, midway through the presentation of the court, the principal interrupted the speakers with a special announcement.

He named one of the young ladies on the prom court and said she had a new escort who had just arrived.  And turning to see who it was, the young lady burst into tears as she watched her father walk onto stage wearing his military fatigues.

He had just returned from 6 months of deployment overseas and held in his arms a special bouquet for his daughter.

The girl stepped down off the platform and a long, tearful embrace followed while the crowd stood to its feet and applauded.

Good thing I always carry a Kleenex. 

It was an honor to get to experience this powerful moment of return and restoration with them. And the scene came back to me the other day as I was thinking about Christ’s return and a sermon our pastor gave on the subject just a few weeks ago.

You see, I’ve always been a bit apprehensive about Christ’s return. 

To be honest, I’m the one who’s always wishing that God would take his time. 

It’s not because I’m living a wild life and want to have a few more laughs before I straighten out. For me, it’s because I’ve always wanted to experience all that life has to offer first, and what if Jesus decided to come back before I get to do it all?

I’ll miss out on something. I just know I will.

But our pastor helped me look at the whole thing a new way during his sermon and even said, “We are to be in a relationship with God where our hearts are longing for his return.” Slowly, I’m starting to look at the reality of Christ’s upcoming return with new, expectant eyes. 

In Hebrews 9:28 it says that Christ will appear a second time to save those who wait for him eagerly. 

And Matthew 24:44 says that he will come at an unexpected time.

And I guess it helps to not know the day. That way, we can invest our time in making sure we’re ready for him it at any moment instead of putting off our preparations for a later date. 

Bob Deffinbaugh from Bible.org says that many of us approach the end times with the same type of procrastination we have with our gas tanks, “… those who run out of fuel are those who wrongly suppose that they still have plenty of time to get it later. We know when our gas gauge is low. Good grief, we can see the flashing lights on the dash.

“But we lull ourselves into thinking that there is still plenty of time to deal with the problem. There will surely be another gas station ahead, and not too far. This false confidence has gotten many people into trouble.

“Those who think they will have other chances to come to faith in Jesus are making a very dangerous assumption. The coming of our Lord will be sudden and unexpected, and when He comes, all chances of changing our course have been forfeited. The coming of our Lord ends our opportunity to turn to Him in faith, and it seals our doom.”

 Now more than ever, I’m understanding that we need to determined to be ready with our attitudes and our life choices. 

What a beautiful time it was, for that young lady to receive her father while she was onstage at prom court. She was in the right place at the right time to fully enjoy his return.

“If the skies opened and the trump blasts, would you be ready?” My pastor asked us that Sunday. “Or, would you be crawling under your seat, (saying) ‘not today, I’m not ready. I’ve been living for myself.’”  

Let’s be ready today so we say together: Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.

Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:

Matthew 24:29-31 New American Standard Bible 

29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

John 14:3 New International Version 

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Matthew 24:44 English Standard Version

44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
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Who is God? Christ will appear a second time to save those who wait for him eagerly. And Matthew 24:44 says that he will come at an unexpected time. We need to invest our time in making sure we’re ready for him at at any moment instead of putting off our preparations for a later date. ​