Saturday after Cantate, 5/8/99

Revelation 22: 16, 17
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the
churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright
Morning Star."  The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who
hears say, "Come!"  Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes,
let him take the free gift of the water of life.
--NIV

In the name of the Spirt Who anticipates the second coming, amen.

Are your bags packed?  Are you ready to go?  The time is short; we are
near the end.  Oh but life continues on.  "The end might not be for
another two thousand years!" you might be thinking.  Maybe, maybe not. 
We are supposed to be ready.  What is more is that part of being ready is
having the water there for those who are thirsty.  We need to get the
Gospel to those who need it.

So, are you ready to go?  The time is short.  Have you made up with the
people you should have?  Have you made your apologies?  Have you paid
back what you have stolen?  Now is the time to get ready, because we may
die in a car accident on the way home tonight, or choke on a chicken bone
at lunch.

Fortunately God gives us the things we need to be ready as individuals
and as a church.  We have the gift of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us. 
We have the water of life to share with others.  And so when the Spirit
says, "Come!"  we join in and say, "Come."  We say, "Come!" because
Christ's second coming is the joyful release from the problems and pain
of this life.  "Amen, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20b).  Amen.

Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for preparing us to meet our Savior.  May He
come soon and rescue us from this place of tears.  May we make use of
each brief moment we have left to reach out to others so that they may
share in the rest that Jesus has prepared for those who love Him, amen.