September Blog 2025
As I settle down to write this blog after a few days of prayer and reflection the sun is still shining upon us, though much needed rain is forecast. I hope you have been able to enjoy this extraordinary time of good weather wherever you may have been during August? As you can see, I spent some time at home in Scotland walking, seeing friends, swimming in the river, and breathing in the beauty of God’s creation. Feeling restored and refreshed I have been thinking quite a lot about are ‘we ready and prepared’ for Jesus’ return? A book that I have recently read, ‘And the Lamb wins’ by Simon Ponsonby has also ignited this question. It looks at death and life; signs of the end times; Antichrists, beasts and the Man of lawlessness; Tribulation and Rapture; Armageddon; the Return of the King; resurrection and judgement; heaven and hell. Ponsonby examines a theology of the end times through the lens of solid scripture and shares how we can realistically and positively react to these revelations in our daily lives. Perhaps topics that we don’t often think about that much because would Jesus really return in our lifetime?!
Many reading this blog will have been preparing for their children to return to school after the summer holidays, perhaps a new school; others starting university or setting up a new home as they start their first job; others returning to work or perhaps planning and preparing to go on holiday as prices drop after the summer break. At church work has started in the Link after much planning and preparation – thank you all. Keen gardeners will be preparing for autumn. Many of us spend a lot of time planning and preparing for a lot of things, especially if we are people who like to be in control of our own lives or lives of others.
But what about preparing for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ? It says clearly in the Gospels that Jesus is going to return but at a time unknown to us (Luke 12: 35 – 48). ‘You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour’ (12.v 40). I know that because Jesus has not yet returned after two thousand years I am complacent and if honest, do not believe He will in my life time, but what if I am wrong and He does return – will He find me alert, watching and praying, worshipping and immersed in His Word, forgiving, loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving my neighbour as myself. Will He find me acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly in His ways. I am not so sure.
Jesus says that before He returns, we will see an increase in wickedness in the world and my goodness we are seeing that today. The day of the Lord will come, Jesus will return and as Ponsonby says, He will return personally, physically, geographically, visibly, unexpectedly, purposefully, and only once. Are we ready and prepared?
Should Jesus return tomorrow what would he find and witness at St. Mark’s? As I have prayed, God has put these characteristics on my heart and we will be thinking about them further in October and November. Will he find a community that is worshipping, serving and giving, praying and fasting, loving and welcoming, forgiving and healing – a holy community?
Another verse which has been speaking to me is Jeremiah 6: 16 ‘Stand at the Crossroads and look; ask for the ancient of paths and ask where the good way is, and walk in it – and you will find rest for your souls’. Perhaps this is a good place to start if we are not sure if we are ready and prepared for Jesus’ return tomorrow, next week or next month. Ask God to help us choose the right road, the Jesus road, rather than the road of success, power, wealth, greed, the many roads that the enemy would love to entice us on to travel – the wide and easy road.
I heard of a Minister who each day pulled back his curtains and asked the Lord, ‘Is it today Lord?’ Are we that ready and prepared for Jesus’ arrival? The Bible ends with these verses ‘Surely I am coming soon, and the saints pray, Amen, Come Lord Jesus.’
Blessings
Hennie