Do You Know How Easy It Is To Stay Ready For Christ’s Second Coming?
A friend of mine was flying a private plane when the engine suddenly died and the plane started down. He turned to each of the three other passengers and asked them, “Are you ready?”
Three things we know:
Christ will return again. No one knows the time.
It will happen suddenly. There will be no preparation.
You can be ready and stay ready.
A baby can be born suddenly. It’s easy to get prepared. The question is, “Did you prepare?”
In 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Paul told us several key things to help us be totally prepared for whenever Christ returns:
Everyone needs spiritual protection.
“You need a pastor.” Pastors are assigned the responsibility of looking out for their sheep. Satan is a wolf (deceiver) and a lion (attacker). He loves to single out sheep.
Find a strong local church with a pastor who teaches and lives by example the Bible. Look for one who is not afraid to warn you if you are too close to the cliff. He should both encourage and admonish at the same time.
Everyone needs spiritual friends.
Relationships are critical right now. “Friends” are more than social media contacts. They are live, flesh and blood people who can touch you, encourage you, confront you, and support you.
It is critical that you find that group. Churches have small groups. They are not a program, they are your people. They know you and check on you.
Don’t allow ANYTHING to separate you from your spiritual friends. Don’t get offended, discouraged, or impatient with them. Stay connected.
Everyone needs to be filled with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has an assignment: “to help you get to heaven.”
He will come to live inside of you if you ask Him to. From the inside, He will give you:
JOY when you are discouraged;
PURPOSE when you are depressed;
PRAYER when you don’t know how to pray;
GRATITUDE when you have an attitude!
Everyone needs to be faithful.
You have your job in the kingdom of God. DO IT.
You have a local church to support. SUPPORT IT.
You have a family to raise. LEAD IT.
You have a message to share. SAY IT.
You have a reputation to keep. KEEP IT.
You have a battle to fight. FIGHT IT.
“He who calls you is faithful. He will surely DO IT” (1 Thess. 5: 24).
It’s easier than you think to be ready for the second coming of Christ.
