Thursday, April 26, 2012

Now Is The Time To Be Ready



The Lord’s chosen people are not of the dark in spiritual matters, for the Lord Himself has taken them from darkness into His beautiful light, praise the Lord!!  Before we were converted we were like the blind leading the blind, stumbling about trying to get through life the best way we could being the miserable and wretched people we were.  After our conversion we were washed and cleansed of our sin through the precious blood of Jesus, given the mind of Christ and covered with His righteousness and also given the Holy Spirit, plus a measure of faith and power to live a godly life.  

We have also been privileged with having the Word of God.  We are blessed beyond measure, praise the Lord.  Paul spoke to the Thessalonian church about them being light and about the day of the Lord’s return.  Paul said this in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.”

There have been many people over the years that have tried to predict the day the Lord is coming back; but no one knows, not even Jesus Himself. What is very important is that you are ready when Jesus comes.  Don’t be misled by people that claim they know the day because they don’t.  The day of the Lord will bring blessings, judgment and punishment.  But for those that are ready, that have been converted, not wrath, but blessing.  Paul said this in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Believers that are ready will not come under condemnation, at that time their salvation will be truly realized, not something they are just waiting for.  Paul was encouraging these believers to fear not but to make it a priority to be ready and waiting so that the day would not take them unaware or by surprise.  

He spoke these words in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all sons of light and sons of the day.  We are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”

These believers were to put on the armor of God which it speaks more about in Ephesians 6:13-17, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”  These believers were to walk in faith and love and not give up hope.  

Then Paul went on to say this in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”  Paul was speaking to this church instructing and encouraging them to stay alert and be ready and I believe we need to take these things to heart also.  We know that the Lord’s return is in God’s plan and no one knows when it will take place but Him.  Just like the believers in Paul’s day we are not unaware of the coming of the Lord so let’s spur one another on as we see the day approaching.  In Hebrews 10:25 it says this, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."  Let’s put these things into practice.  God bless and have a great day!!          

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