Are you ready?

2 nights ago, I had a dream. It was one of those dreams that would normally wake you with a start, cover you with cold sweat, and have you shaking in your boots.

My dream was about the end times, and the rapture. I don't care one way or the other about pre-, mid-, or post-tribulation theology, because when God decides to do it, He will do it.

Anyways, I dreamt that I had been left behind. I was frantically trying to find someone I knew; my wife, my friends, and I was scared. I was also angry and confused. I couldn't figure out why God left me, as I was quite sure of my commitment to Him. I cried out to Him, asking why He left me, and I was met with silence.

The dream went on, but as dreams go, I don't remember what else happened. What I do remember was how strong the feeling of anger, confusion, resentment, and fear were; especially fear. I woke up suddenly, but instead of a cold sweat and fear, I felt peace. I lay there analyzing the dream, and going over the feelings. I remember thinking "I should write this down!", but I didn't - I couldn't get up. So I lay there thinking, and I realized that the peace I felt was because this was from God - he had something to say to me, and He was using this dream.

I asked God what He had for me, and He said, "Get ready". I said, "no really, what do you want?", and He asked, "Are you ready?". "Of course I'm ready!", I said. "Then get ready", He said. It made me think of Larry Norman's song, I Wish We'd All Been Ready. Now, when I am writing this, I realize that God has said this to me before, a few years ago, before life proceeded to dump on me. God was with me through that time, and He brought me through it with an increased strength and trust in Him. He has also blessed me and Stefani with an abundance, and we are now living our dream life.

But this dream, this sign, warning, admonition - whatever you want to call it, is making me think. Are we getting closer? Is "the end" near? In 1 Thessalonians 5:2, we read that it will come unexpected, like a thief at night. When is the last time we got a warning before we our house was broken in to, or our car was stolen. Doesn't happen. I think that God is saying to me, to us, that we should always live in a state of preparedness. In Luke 12:40, Jesus Himself says "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

So, here is my question to you: Are you ready?