Ready or Not Here I Come

About a week before the worldwide lockdown I was doing my daily devotions and read these words spoken by Jesus in Luke 12:35, 36:  “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.” 

These words were highlighted to me and I paused to reflect on them. I was familiar with the term “girded” but sensed I needed to be reminded of its meaning. Back in Biblical times, long robes would be worn. They proved very cumbersome when wanting to run, or do hard labour or fight in a battle. So the term “Let your waist be girded” or “girding up the loins” was in reference to the practice of gathering the bottom or hem of the robe, lifting it up and tucking it into one’s belt or girdle so the knees and lower legs were exposed and consequently one would be more mobile.

In Hebrew the verb “to gird” is azar, which does not just mean to fasten, but to encircle and make safe. This word comes from the root asar, which means to lock up, as in a city that is encircled or surrounded by a wall. When one girded himself in those days, it wasn’t just to run faster but to lock up his entire being.

As I continued reading in Luke throughout the following days, I came across more of Jesus’ words in chapter 17 that reiterated the same theme of readiness. Here Jesus is telling his disciples much the same as He did in chapter 12 about His second coming. One of the definitions of “gird” in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is “to prepare (oneself) for action.” Jesus is highlighting to His disciples that they need to have their “waists girded”, readying themselves for His return. It’s been thousands of years since Jesus said this and He has clearly not returned - YET, but His Words still hold true for us today – “Let your waist be girded”. We are to prepare ourselves for action. 

During a lockdown it would seem contradictory to prepare for action when we aren’t physically moving around as we are used to. For me, it goes beyond physical movement to a spiritual awakening of the heart. Our preparation for action, I believe, is in prayer. Praying like we haven’t before for people across this world to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. John 3:14-17 says in NKJV: 

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

What an amazing opportunity we have for us as believers to prepare ourselves for the promised return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and for us to pray for others to be prepared to meet their Maker.

The lockdown is an opportune time to be less busy and more occupied with what occupies the heart of God and that is souls. My 87 year old spiritual mum would often say to me that  one way to view the word busy is Busy Under Satan’s Yoke. I have also read that the Chinese character for “busy” is comprised of two components; a symbol for a “heart” and a symbol for “dead”. Thus, to be “busy” is to be “heart dead.” In Luke 19:13 when Jesus is sharing the Parable of the Minas He says “Occupy till I come” in reference to the nobleman leaving instructions to his servants as to the wise use of the resources that he left them until his return. 

As disciples of Yeshua are we using this lockdown time wisely? Just as one of the meanings of “gird” says, “to encircle; to make safe; to lock up, as in a city that is encircled by a wall” are we encircling others with our prayers? Are we encircling our families, our community, our neighbourhoods, our cities, and our leaders with our prayers? Are we occupying the otherwise disturbed atmosphere with hope, healing, courage, grace, Shalom? Are we “locking up” our entire being in the Prince of Peace during this “lockdown”?