Will you hear His voice?

In surfing the web this morning, I came across yet another prediction for the exact day and time of the Lord's return.  For a second, I wondered, could it really be?-then the words came to mind-"No man knows the day nor the hour.."  This is not the only prediction for the rapture that we've heard lately.  The latest thing in the news is of course the Mayan prophecy of the end of days being on Dec. 21, 2012 which even spawned the 2009 blockbuster movie "2012".  When I hear these things, my first response is "does it line up with God's Word".  The bible gives a clear description in Matt. 24 about the coming of Christ and the signs that would show His coming was near.  It's important to pay attention to the news and when you see these scriptures coming to pass, take heed and prepare so you'll be ready.  That doesn't mean we physically sell all we have and just wait out in the backyard looking to the sky for Him to come.  We certainly have to use wisdom and care for our families.  But I believe it means we need to prepare our hearts and make sure we are ready, spiritually, for His coming.  Will we know His voice when He gives the call?  When the angel Gabriel blows that trumpet will we hear? When was the last time we picked up our bible or prayed?  In John 10:27 it says "my sheep hear my voice".  How can we recognize His voice if we hardly ever talk with Him?  When I hear these things it just comes as a wake-up call to me to not get complacent and content with the hum-drum and routine of our daily existence, but make sure we stay focused and keep our eyes on Jesus.  In Luke 21:34 it says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares."  We can get so caught up with our trials and even successes, that we forget and take our eyes off the end goal-Heaven, and miss out.  That would be the saddest thing.  So, when you hear all these things, just dig in closer to God, read and pray more, take time to explain God's word to your kids and to pray with them.  Teach your kids to check what they hear with what God's word says about things, so they'll know the truth for themselves.  You'll be surprised how much they understand and will remember.  The bible also says that in the end day the devil would try to deceive even the elect (that's a topic in itself for another day) so know God's word.  Write it on the tables of your heart.  "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  (Luke 21:36)  And also, "And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:39-40)    God Bless you today.