3 Sermon Illustrations on Readiness for Christ's Return

"What if my master should come and find me idle?" said Calvin to his friends, who demanded of him why he wasted his body to such constant labours. "Few are like-minded so as to put this question to their souls, 'Am I as I would wish to be should Christ come?'" This question may serve as a test as to our manner of life:—Am I in such a state as I would wish to be in should my Lord appear? If we can answer this to our comfort, all is well; but if not, by all means let us mend matters, get out of our deshabille, and stand ready to meet our coming Lord. Bravely did Calvin fight on under a heap of disorders, and if we would be approved at the last we must imitate him in a constant diligence, born of "seeing him who is invisible." Lord, make me to hear thy footfall evermore, and cause me so to live as though I heard thee at the door.

At the time his majesty, desiring that himself and family should repose in the same sepulchre, and in one less public than that of Westminster, had ordered the tomb-house at Windsor to be constructed, Mr. Wyatt, his architect, waited upon him with a detailed report and plan of the design, and of the manner in which he proposed to arrange it for the reception of the remains of royalty. The king went minutely through the whole; and when finished, Mr. Wyatt, in thanking his majesty, said apologetically, he had ventured to occupy so much of his majesty's time and attention with these details, in order that it might not be necessary to bring so painful a subject again under his notice. To this the king replied, "Mr. Wyatt, I request that you will bring the subject before me whenever you please. I shall attend with as much pleasure to the building of a tomb to receive me when I am dead, as I would to the decorations of a drawing-room to hold me while living: for, Mr. Wyatt, if it please God that I should live to be ninety or a hundred, I am willing to stay: but if it pleases God to take me this night, I am ready to go!"