Are You Prepared?

So what happens to a man who stands before a holy God in the rags of his own sin? Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 13:41-42. " The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do inquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." My friend, hell is real. The Bible tells us that it is a place of torment, a place of outer darkness, a place of weeping, and a place of forever. Jesus told in Luke 16 of a man who died and went to hell. Why? Because he was not prepared to meet God and when he died it was to late to prepare.

So how does a man prepare to meet God? We know that it is not by religion, it it not by being a good person.Is there any hope? The answer from the Word of God is a resounding yes! There is hope for man because of the love and grace of God. John 3:16 tells us that God's love for us caused Him to send His only Son to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus came to pay the debt of your sin so that the justice of a holy God could be satisfied. Romans 5:8 tells us that Jesus literally went to the cross you. He was without sin but He was willing to become your sin. Every wicked thing you have done or will do, Jesus took on Himself. Jesus paid for your sin so that you would not have to! He bore your sin so that you could stand righteous before God.

Christ shed his own blood for your sins. Christ died, was buried, and rose again. He ascended to the Father and now offers salvation as a free gift. How do you receive the gift of eternal life? How do you prepare to meet God?

1. Admit Your Sin- Agree with God that you have sinned Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23

2. Abandon Your Efforts- If we could save ourselves, Christ's death would have been unnecessary.

3. Acknowledge Christ's payment- Romans 5:8

4. Accept Christ as Your Savior- Salvation is God's gift to you. Romans 6:23 Accept the gift

On September 12, 2008 people in Las Angeles, California began to leave their work place. It was a Friday evening and their work week was done. Those people gathered their belongings and boarded a commuter train that would take them home. No doubt many were thinking of their weekend plans and others were looking forward to a shower and supper. Suddenly, withou warning, the commuter train collided with another train and instantly 25 people were hurled into eternity. They did not have any notice, any warning, yet their appointment came and their life was over. Were they are today depends on what they did with Jesus Christ and whether or not they were prepared to meet God.

For all of us that appointment draws closer. Whether we are in a bed, a car, or a plane, it does not matter. Death will come. God loves you. He wants you to be prepared. He wants you to have your sins forgiven. Would you not wait another day? Would you today, right now in this service prepare to meet God?