Week Forty-Two - Are You Ready?

Are you ready? That's a good question.
Ready for what? That's another good question.

In my devotion today, Henry Blackaby stated, "There is no substitute for spiritual preparation." If we are going to be equipped for unforeseen crises or opportunities, we need to be prepared. We will be vulnerable to life's unexpected events if we are unprepared.

The parable of the Ten Virgins is a perfect example. All ten were waiting for the bridegroom's arrival, but only five came prepared for the wait to be longer than anticipated. They had extra oil. But the other five were ill-prepared. So when their oil ran out, they had to go get more. And while they were away, the bridegroom came, and they missed out on the celebration.

Blackaby writes, "If you are spiritually prepared when a crisis comes, you will not have to try to develop instantly the quality of relationship with Christ that can sustain you. If you suddenly have an opportunity to share your faith with an unbeliever, you will be equipped to do so. If you enter a time of worship spiritually prepared you will not miss an encounter with God. If you are spiritually filled when you meet a person in sorrow, you will have much to offer. If you have established safeguards in your life in advance, you will not give in to temptation. Christians lose many opportunities to experience God's activity because they have not devoted enough time to their relationship with God."

It has been my experience that God often prepares my heart and mind long before a crisis arrives, and when it comes, I already have the peace of God and the comfort of His Spirit assuring me of His hand. Some might call it intuition, but I know it is God's work preparing me for what I am about to face. 

But this preparation doesn't come by wishing or hoping, it is the fruit of time with God, time in His Word, and a heart yielded to His will in all things, come what may. So are you ready? I hope so.

But there is another event for which we need all be ready, and that is the imminent calling away of the saints of God - the rapture. Dear friend, the Bible teaches that the trumpet of God will sound, and those who know Christ will be called away from this earth in a split second and ushered into the celebrations at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Preparation for this event must be done today. After that, there will not be a second chance, no time to go get more oil or make an appeal. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," the Bible says, "at the last trump...we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). Changed into what? Into our immortal bodies, ready to live in heaven. Are you ready?

Spiritual preparation is imperative both for living on this earth and for living in heaven. So I hope you have your lamp all trimmed and bright. I’m ready. Are you?