You Too Must Stand Ready Series

Introduction:

Procrastination is a major problem in the world today. It is always putting off what needs to be done or hoping to do tomorrow what should have been done yesterday. Procrastination is waiting for the deadline and not taking advantage of the time before the deadline forgetting that tomorrow may be too late. It affects both sexes and all age groups and can be fatal when it affects our relationship with Christ. We only deceive ourselves when we believe that there will still be enough time before our death or before Christ’s return to come to Christ. We want to think that we are in control of the future, but the reality is that we are not. We do not even know what is going to happen in the next few seconds. The wisest thing to do is to be ready for Christ’s return now since time waits for no man.

Step One: Be reconciled to God

a) All have sinned

We must be reconciled to God if we want to be ready for Christ’s return. In Adam “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) and since “the wages of sin is death”, (Rom 6:23) every man is separated from God. Sinful man needs a Saviour and Christ died to reconcile us to God.

b) Christ paid the penalty for sin

Christ took our place and paid the penalty for sin. He bore the full judgement of God on sin for our forgiveness and “By grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God”. (Eph. 2:8)

c) Christ died for our justification

Christ died for our justification. Justification to each one of us is “Just-as-if-I” had never sinned. “As one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men”. (Rom. 5:18) “Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our Justification.” (Rom. 4:25)

Illustration:

Christ died to give us eternal life and reconcile us with God. He saves us to have a relationship with God so that we can know Him, and His revelations about our status, future and His purpose for our lives. Many people however, instead of believing God’s revelations concerning their status and future, turn to so-called spiritual specialists who claim to have access to such knowledge. The search for this kind of knowledge from people with questionable character is a worldwide phenomenon. It is a very sad commentary on our day that many people, no matter their level of education, would believe almost anything even when it defies common sense. Many people are being asked to do unacceptable things which they willingly do just because the person claims to ‘be a man of God’ with spiritual eyes that can see into the future. Anyone can claim to be spiritual and have spiritual eyes but when this is not true, they only end up telling spiritual lies. Why are people so interested in knowing the future? It is simply because human beings want to be prepared for the future. But all they need to know that is of importance has already been revealed in the Scriptures.

Application:

Preparation for the future and for Christ’s return is to see all life’s experiences from heaven’s viewpoint as has been revealed in the Scriptures. Our preparation begins with coming to Christ and having an intimate relationship with Him.

Step Two: Be attentive to Christ

a) Study His word

The first thing Christ offers us when we come to Him is a relationship. In this relationship we must be attentive to whatever is of concern to Christ. We must study His word, listen to Him and follow His directions. We cannot claim to know God when we do not know His word and have no time to listen to Him.

b) Know His Will

When we pay attention to the things of God, we will know that He wants His Will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) When we delight ourselves in the LORD, He makes His desires our desires so that what He gives us is what He desires for us.

c) Believe His promises

When we pay attention to the things of God, we will believe His promises. Christ has fulfilled many of the promise He has made and those He has not yet fulfilled will be fulfilled at the appropriate time. When the day of Pentecost had fully come, He fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit. At the right time He will also fulfil His promise to return in the same way the disciples saw Him leave for heaven.