Ready, we need to be ready for action. This has just stopped me in my tracks these last couple of days. We cannot be slumbering through life or slumbering past what God has called us to.
Our lamps need to be burning bright because we must be ready to defend our faith. We cannot bow down to false gods or the schemes of the enemy.
Now, remember lamps cast light and cast out the darkness. They also illuminate what could not be seen before.
We all have probably heard the phrase, "Ready or not here I come." In playing hide and seek as a child.
But have you ever thought or asked yourself Am I ready if Christ returns today or tomorrow?
Would you freak out or would you be cool as a cucumber? Would you be ready for Him to rapture you into the new heavens and new earth?
We must be ready for the return of Christ even though we do not know for sure when His return is. We have to be equipped to share the gospel of Christ!
In the gospel of Matthew, it says, "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."(Matthew24:44ESV).
Being ready for His return does not exactly mean having an evacuation plan but instead, I believe it means more about being Spiritually ready for Christ's return.
Since his return will be at a time we do not expect. Now by all means if a plan helps you get ready have at it.
The gospel of Luke says, "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps during, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master find awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."(Luke12:35-40ESV).
We may not know when the return of Christ is going to be. However, we must be ready in and out of season. Meaning, we must always be ready for His return.
In all honesty, there are days I am so ready (In these days is when I question all humanity and the lack of common sense there is on earth) and then there are times I am like I have so much life to live yet. I want to get married and have kids with the husband that God has ordained for me that has yet to come.
We need to be ready for when He comes and knocks on our doors. We must be dressed for action and equipped for every good work. So we can walk in truth and righteousness.
"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hatred by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."(Titus 3:1-7ESV).
Basically, we do not have time to waste in being foolish or acting like fools. Again we must stand up for our faith and defend it. We cannot sit back and wait for someone else to do it.
I know that it says to be submissive to authorities and such, but God does not want His children to be slaves to anyone again.
He does not want them to be bound by false gods or false truths. God does not want any of His children entangled in the bondage of sin of any kind.
God does not want his children bound by tyranny or any ruler who abuses their power without legal right.
God sent his Son to die for our sins, so we could be free from sin. And so we would walk in freedom and walk in relationship with God.
If we are walking in oppression or sin, then we may not be ready for when Christ returns.
And if we walk in foolishness without self-control or no boundaries then we are merely not preparing ourselves spiritually for Christ's return but instead aimlessly walking into nonsense.
However, besides all that I want you to feast on the goodness of God's love displayed in Titus chapter 3.
Moreover, I want you to feast on the fact God does not lose a battle nor does he waste a battle. When Christ returns he will come with a purpose and with fury and fire. He will come to fulfill scripture once more and do His father's will.
God out of love saved us from our foolishness and restored, redeemed what no one else could ever do. Out of pure agape love, God reached out through His grace to make us His children.
So I was just finishing this wonderful Bible Study by Angie Smith Called Matchless. And at the end of the Study, there was something that stood out to me that I would like to share.
Angie Smith says, "Jesus is coming back to claim His bride, but He will also come with fury and fire. The Lamb will return as a Lion."(Smith, 2020, pg.197 Matchless).
Can we just sit with this for a while and breathe this in? Christ is going to return at an unexpected time with fire, with fury, with purpose, with love. Jesus is also going to come back for us specifically out of pure love again.
Jesus is not going to leave us nor forsake us. He is returning for us. I am not sure we can fully fathom this truth entirely.
Let this post be a reminder of God's unconditional truth because He is coming ready or not here he comes at an unexpected time so be ready.
Also, I am Leaving some of my favorite songs this year which are on youtube videos below with the links.
References:
English Standard Version Study Bible (2008) Crossway Publishing, Wheaton ILL,
Picture by: wix.com
Smith, Angie, 2020, Matchless, The Life and Love of Jesus, Bible Study, LifeWay Publishing, Nashville Tennessee,
Never Lost feat.Tauren Wells | Live | Elevation Worship ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TOPBr8k8xY
Graves Into Gardens ft. Brandon Lake | Live | Elevation Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwX1f2gYKZ4
The Blessing with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes | Live From Elevation Ballantyne | Elevation
Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4
Way Maker | Live From Grand Rapids First | Wind & Embers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E64HbLL2w9Y
Faithful | Live | Elevation Worship //www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmjUiTGdvko
Still God | Live | Elevation Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3in58QMGeGE
Jeremy Camp - Keep Me In The Moment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb1bx3hYfzg
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