Because of what is here, we see the need to be ready. Jesus was addressing his disciples and told them one day he would come back. He said whatever you do, be ready. This is a dark hour and has been for a long time. How much darker can the dark be? The events that happened this week show us that it has just gotten darker. The risk is worse now for us. The Lord knows how to sober our hearts. God’s kingdom is not of this world. Regardless of what is legislated as right, remember that doesn’t make it right. There is one right and one wrong. God set the standard. No court decides or can pass laws contrary to the law of God and change a thing. God has laid down what is right and wrong in his Word. His coming is eminent. Because of this, are you therefore ready? When the Master comes back, will you be ready to receive him?
Luke 12: 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 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. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Jesus explained it straight and in detail. The rapture of Jesus is mocked and made fun of these days. Society used to be fearful. A joke about the rapture made people afraid. Not so now. These are perilous, wicked times. There is no fear of God. Lies about how the end will be are spread far and wide. However, ready or not, Jesus is coming. We need to be in full readiness. The time is upon us at any moment. Are you saved? Are you satisfied with coming to church or being a Free Will Baptist but have not turned your life over to Jesus? Many people think they are safe but they are not. If your heart is not right with God, you will be left behind. The time to embrace the Lord is passing. You are losing ground. You’re losing time. You cannot be happy if you go on in your sin. Except you repent, you will perish. It’s time to come out and be counted and not be ashamed of your Savior. If you want to shout on the streets of gold, you have to be ready now, here, beforehand.
I don’t know the hour of Jesus’ coming, but the night is upon us. We know it by what we see around us. If there has ever been a dark time, it is now. The only law we’d better make sure we follow is God’s. The only citizenship we’d better make sure is our citizenship in heaven. You can belong to a religion, a church. You can say you’re a Christian and mean any number of things by making such statements. No political party or special interest groups are going to heaven. Only those who are born again will go to heaven. Jesus said be ready. There is nothing more comforting than knowing you’re ready to go. You can’t make me ready. I can’t make you ready. We can encourage each other but to be ready we have to trust Jesus as Savior. Him in me and me in him. You in him and him in you. It has to be more than an assumption or hope. You must have Jesus in your heart. Are you forgiven? Are you ready? If not, you will be left behind. The only ones going are the ready ones. I can’t do anything for your sins. I can’t sprinkle holy water on you and make you right with God. Only the blood of Jesus will take away sins.
Can you stand for the Lord by yourself? We need to support each other, but you must stand for yourself. You need more than an “I hope I’m ready” to be ready. The coming of Jesus is a sure event that will take place any moment. It will be sooner than we can imagine; we need to be ready now. If we knew we would die today, how different would we be?
I’ve had enough of this world. I want to go to heaven. That means I need to trust Jesus. Verse 40 says be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Can you say even so come, Lord Jesus? Come. Ready yourself. Then the Lord will help us help others to get ready.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 