BEING READY WHEN JESUS RETURNS?
The disciples came to Jesus privately and asked him, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus told them about signs when the time would be nearing. But he said of the exact time, “no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son [on earth], but only the Father [In heaven]” (Mark 13:32). However, Jesus advises us to watch and pray for you do not know the day nor the hour when the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 24:36-44).
SIGN Of NOAH’S DAY
The Lord informs us: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away” (Matthew 24:37-39).
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
NEED TO BE READY
The Lord gave us a parable about TEN VIRGINS, to show the need to be ready when he comes:
There were ten virgins who were expecting a groom to come. But they did not know the day nor the hour he would come. Five of the virgins who were wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Another five virgins who were foolish did not take any oil with them. At midnight a cry was made, “the bridegroom is coming.” The five wise virgins trimmed their lamps and went out to meet the groom. The five foolish virgins did not have enough oil to go out to meet the bridegroom.
The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13).
The Bible informs us: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit produces things of the Spirit that prepares us to live in heaven when Jesus returns (Galatians 5:22-25).
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT BEING READY
- The Bible says, “now is the day of salvation,” the time for getting ready ( 2 Corinthians 6:23).
- Recognize that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
- Believe that he wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord. (Roman 6:23).
- God is patient with us, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
- Jesus said, unless you repent of your sins you will perish (Luke 13:1-3).
- God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
- “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” ( Acts 2:38).
- By repenting and believing in Jesus Christ you become born-again, and filled with the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-7; 16:7-15)).
- Having been born again, you become the Lord’s Spirit-filled vessels producing loving and glowing fruit of the Spirit, in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8; Galatians 5:22).
- As vessels filled with the oil of God’s Spirit, you become his reflecting light to a world of darkness and sin. (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16).
Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, with the work of the Holy Spirit, is getting all repentant believers ready to live with God in heaven when Jesus returns (John 14:2-3):
