Several years back, Jerry Clower made famous a story about his cousin, Eugene Ledbetter. It seems that Eugene was working out in the field when this preacher walked up to him and started asking him questions. The exchange went somewhat as follows:
Preacher: "Are you a Christian?"
Eugene: "No, I'm a Ledbetter."
Preacher: "No boy, I mean are you lost?"
Eugene: "No, I’ve lived around here my whole life."
Preacher: "No, what I'm gettin' at is, are you ready for the Rapture?"
Eugene: "When is it?"
Preacher: "Well, it could be tomorrow, or it could be the next day."
Eugene: "Don't tell my wife... because she'll want to go to go both days."*
I thought about this joke this morning. My own precious wife has been out of town for the last few days visiting a friend down in Georgia. As is always the case, her impending return necessitated a frenzy of activity on my part. You see, I have been enjoying the proverbial “Life of Riley” these last few days. At least, that is, up until this morning.
Ah, the life of a bachelor! Free and clear! One gets to come in, kick off his shoes, and actually leave them right there where they fall! Dishes pile up in the sink; and clothes in the hamper. My popcorn bowl gets to sit right by the easy chair, or wherever it was last utilized. As does my can of Diet coke.
But, as fun as it was; I knew that it couldn’t last. All along, through every play of college football on Saturday afternoon and every moment of my carefree Sunday afternoon spent watching the pro football, I knew in my heart that the clock was ticking. It may have been the weekend; but Monday was coming – and so was my wife!
This morning, knowing her arrival was indeed imminent, I jumped out of bed early. After all, I had a kitchen to clean, clothes to wash, and a house to straighten. It took a little while; but I dare say that the house is in better shape right now than at any time in recent memory! Trust me – you can eat off of our floor and not fear getting sick!
Which leads me to my point… Someone other than my wife is also coming back! And this Person’s return will have a far greater impact on my life than will that of even her. Of course, I’m talking about the Lord Himself, Who once said: “…the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.” (Matthew 16:27)
No wonder then that Jesus also said: “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.” (Mark 13:35-37)
All jokes aside, I love my wife, and want her to know this. So much so that when she returns, I want her to find the house she has left me in charge of in good order. Even more so, I love my Lord Jesus Christ. So much so that when He returns, I want Him to find the House He left me in charge of in good order!
How about you? In light of our Lord’s soon return, could your life stand a little house-cleaning today? If so, might not now be a good time to get started?!
*SOURCE: This joke is available widely on the internet. Cf., for example: http://imho-vbg.blogspot.com/2006/10/october-5-2006.html.
Preacher: "Are you a Christian?"
Eugene: "No, I'm a Ledbetter."
Preacher: "No boy, I mean are you lost?"
Eugene: "No, I’ve lived around here my whole life."
Preacher: "No, what I'm gettin' at is, are you ready for the Rapture?"
Eugene: "When is it?"
Preacher: "Well, it could be tomorrow, or it could be the next day."
Eugene: "Don't tell my wife... because she'll want to go to go both days."*
I thought about this joke this morning. My own precious wife has been out of town for the last few days visiting a friend down in Georgia. As is always the case, her impending return necessitated a frenzy of activity on my part. You see, I have been enjoying the proverbial “Life of Riley” these last few days. At least, that is, up until this morning.
Ah, the life of a bachelor! Free and clear! One gets to come in, kick off his shoes, and actually leave them right there where they fall! Dishes pile up in the sink; and clothes in the hamper. My popcorn bowl gets to sit right by the easy chair, or wherever it was last utilized. As does my can of Diet coke.
But, as fun as it was; I knew that it couldn’t last. All along, through every play of college football on Saturday afternoon and every moment of my carefree Sunday afternoon spent watching the pro football, I knew in my heart that the clock was ticking. It may have been the weekend; but Monday was coming – and so was my wife!
This morning, knowing her arrival was indeed imminent, I jumped out of bed early. After all, I had a kitchen to clean, clothes to wash, and a house to straighten. It took a little while; but I dare say that the house is in better shape right now than at any time in recent memory! Trust me – you can eat off of our floor and not fear getting sick!
Which leads me to my point… Someone other than my wife is also coming back! And this Person’s return will have a far greater impact on my life than will that of even her. Of course, I’m talking about the Lord Himself, Who once said: “…the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.” (Matthew 16:27)
No wonder then that Jesus also said: “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.” (Mark 13:35-37)
All jokes aside, I love my wife, and want her to know this. So much so that when she returns, I want her to find the house she has left me in charge of in good order. Even more so, I love my Lord Jesus Christ. So much so that when He returns, I want Him to find the House He left me in charge of in good order!
How about you? In light of our Lord’s soon return, could your life stand a little house-cleaning today? If so, might not now be a good time to get started?!
*SOURCE: This joke is available widely on the internet. Cf., for example: http://imho-vbg.blogspot.com/2006/10/october-5-2006.html.