Are you
ready?
It was
nine-o-clock, I’d just got back from a walk with the dog, and I went into the
bedroom to change from my walking clothes, when I decided I would put on my pyjamas.
My thought was, “I’ll get ready, then I’ll be ready”, and so I then got myself
a drink and did all the usual things I do in preparation for bed, which was
good as when it was finally time for bed I would be ready, so all I would have
to do is go to bed and sleep, lovely.
I thought
about other things that we need to prepare early for and not leave till the
last minute, a bride for instance would be foolish to leave getting a dress for
herself and the bridesmaids, the flowers, choosing the songs, finding a venue
for the reception, ordering food etc. until the actual day. Can you imagine the
grooms face if his bride turned up having no makeup on, no new dress and shoes,
no headdress, etc.? He would be so bewildered, I would imagine his first
thought would be, “Am I not worth the effort?”, you were quite happy to take all
the gifts I gave you, you were quite happy to receive the engagement ring, the
poor man. It sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it? And yet there are many Christians
who don’t take seriously God’s Word when it tells us to be ready for the return
of the Lord Jesus.
Do you
think it doesn’t matter how you conduct yourselves, do you think it doesn’t
matter how you speak? Do you think it doesn’t matter how you treat others? Do you
think it doesn’t matter what you watch on TV, or read, or listen to? Do you
think you can keep staining the robe of righteousness that Christ has given you
by acting and doing the same as those in the world? Do you seriously think that
you can come to the wedding feast unprepared, and your clothes looking like the
worlds?
Perhaps you
think you’re okay because you go to church, you sing all the lovely hymns, in
fact no matter what is going on you’re there. You read your Bible, you pray,
you’re trying your best, you’re convinced you’ve done enough because you’ve
done so much and given so much to the church. But can I ask you, are you in
Christ, have you left self, and the world, is Christ living in you, and living
through you, are you being conformed each day more and more into His likeness
by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Diligently
and prayerfully study God’s Word so that you may know what God’s will is for
all those who are His Son’s bride. Don’t listen to man’s opinion of it, but ask
God to reveal it to you through His Word by the Holy Spirit, then you will know
how to be ready. Get ready, then you will be ready. Don't be like the bride who took all the gifts but wasn't ready for the actual wedding day.
Matthew 24
God, bless
you as you seek and desire to know more of Him, shalom.
Matthew 22
