Salvation Message 2: "Get Ready"

The title of my message is: Get Ready.

Get ready means to be prepared. It means to set our houses in order. Some events that we prepare for, we already know what day and what time the event will happen. For example, when we get ready for a Sunday morning service, we know what day we have to be there, and we know what time the service will start. But, there are events that we know are going to happen, but we don’t know the exact date or the exact time that they are going to happen. We do know that it is very important and vital that we prepare for them so that we can be ready when they do occur. Let’s use a hurricane for an example. We are told to prepare for it when the weatherman sees the first signs of its development even though we don’t know the exact date or the exact time that it will hit land. The event that I’m telling you to get ready for is in the latter category. It is an event that is going to happen, even though we don’t know the exact date or the exact time that it is going to happen. It will happen because it has been ordained and established in heaven by God. There is nothing that can stop it. I am talking about the soon return of Jesus Christ. Turn with me to Matthew 24:36. That’s Matthew 24:36. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Only God knows the exact date and the hour that Jesus will come back. But Jesus has given us some warning signs-- Warning signs of the times-- and He warns us to get ready. I am telling you today that we need to get ready for the soon return of Jesus Christ. We need to set our houses in order. I am telling you, whatever you need to do, do it now. If you need to accept Jesus as your savior, do it now. If you need to get back into fellowship with God, do it now. Jesus has already come to earth, and sacrificed His life for our salvation. He rose from the dead so that we can spend eternity with Him. He went back to heaven to prepare a place for us, and He is coming back soon to get us. Turn with me to Hebrews 2:14-15. That’s Hebrews 2:14-15. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Jesus) also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loved us so much that He humbled Himself, came down to earth from heaven, was born of a virgin woman, and walked on earth as a man, so that He could die on the cross, set us free from the power of the devil, and from the fear of death. Turn with me to Matthew 28:5-6. That’s Matthew 28:5-6. “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” After Jesus was crucified on a cross, He was buried in a grave for three days. Then, God the Father raised Him from the dead. Turn with me to Acts 1:9-11. That’s Acts 1:9-11. “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” After Jesus rose from the dead, He spoke to some other people and His disciples. Then, He went back to heaven on a cloud. Two angels told the disciples that Jesus was going to come back to earth on a cloud the same way that He went back up into heaven. Turn with me to John 14:1-4. That’s John 14:1-4. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down from heaven and gave His life for us. God the Father raised Him from the dead. Jesus went back up into heaven on a cloud, and He is coming back soon for us. My question for you today is: Will you be ready when He comes back? Turn with me to Mark 4:14-20. That’s Mark 4:14-20. “The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts…” Will you be ready when Jesus comes back? If not, what reason will you give Him for why you did not accept Him as your savior? Will you say to Him: “I heard the word of God, but I allowed the devil to rob me of my faith through fear and doubt”? When we hear the word of God,God gives us the faith to believe His word. But, the devil comes immediately and tries to steal God’s word from us through fear and doubt, so that we will reject the word of God. The devil does not want us to receive God’s word because he knows that the truth of God’s word will set us free from the bondage of the devil’s lies. The devil knows that the word of God is right, and that all of God’s works are done in truth. The devil wants to deceive us so that we can continue to walk in sin and in darkness because he hates us. He wants us to die and go to hell. God loves us. He wants us to accept His word so that we can walk in His righteousness and in His light. God wants us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. Let us read verses 16 and 17: “…And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended…” Will you tell Jesus: “I heard God’s word, and I accepted You as my savior, but when the devil afflicted me, and people, including some of my own family, persecuted me because of my faith in You, I became offended and angry with You, and I turned away from you”? When we accept Jesus as our savior, sometimes the devil will afflict us with everything that he can. Some people will ridicule, persecute, and reject us because of our belief in Jesus. We must not allow anyone or anything to cause us to turn away from our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Romans 8:37 tells us that we are more than conquerors through Him (Jesus) who loves us. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Let us read verse 18: “…And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful…” Will you tell Jesus: “I heard God’s word, and I accepted You as my savior, but the cares of this world, and my desire for riches, fame, and pleasures became more important to me than You were, so I backslid, and I went back into the world”? When we hear God’s word and we accept Jesus as our savior, but we don’t put Him first in our lives, we often allow other things to become our God. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Our greatest desire should be to obey and to please God. Our desires, and the desires of others, should be fulfilled ONLY if they are in line with God’s word. Joshua 1:8 says “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” When we obey God, we will have good success. It may not be what the world calls success, but we will be successful in the sight of God. We have to make a choice. Would you rather hear the cheers of the world, or would you rather hear God say: “Well done, My good and faithful servant”? And let us read verse 20: “…And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” When Jesus comes back, will you tell Him: “I heard God’s word, and I accepted You as my savior. I obeyed Your word and I kept my faith in You despite the afflictions of the devil, the persecutions from others, and the cares and temptations of this world. I love you with all of my heart, my soul, my mind, and all of my strength. I told others about You because I loved them as myself. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for preparing a place for us in heaven and for coming back to get us”?