Who Will Be Ready? by Myra Boozer

Hebrews 9:28, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

"What kind of people must we be to be ready for the return of the Lord and to enter the kingdom of heaven with Him?" There are many answers to be given. The one that stays with me so much is...We must be watching and waiting for Him (carrying out His commission). He is coming for those who are looking for Him!

We must be set apart from this world and separated from its hold on us. We must be in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ to want to be with Him. Not just use Him as an escape route to "get out of " what is coming upon this world in the form of judgment because of sin and wickedness. Luke tells us, "Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man," Luke 21:34-36 (NLT).

We must have ears to hear and recognize His voice when He gives us direction...also to hear the trumpet sound...not everyone will hear that sound. We must be ready to go with Him. The Word says to be alert, not dulled by careless living.

Do we love the Bridegroom? Are we laying aside every weight that would hinder us from being ready? Are we watching for His coming? The Truth about the Rapture gives us great incentive to deny worldliness and live holy and righteously today because He could come today.

Don't let anything sedate you. Stay watchful! This world can pull you in by its luring bait, which looks all pretty and innocent, but it is a trap and not easy to escape once you have bought into it. Jesus said, "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it become unfruitful," Mark 4:19. 1 John 2:15 tells us to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Who Will Be Ready? 

Put Off This Man Of Flesh!

This carnal man must be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This man of flesh must be born from above, recreated by the Spirit in the image of our Creator.

What God has purposed will require the power of the Holy Spirit to transform this fleshly tabernacle into a spiritual habitation for Himself. “Transformation is a complete or major change in someone's or something's appearance, form, etc.” This process begins with the first step to salvation, which is repentance. Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Peter was addressing the Jewish unbelievers regarding their rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, their Messiah. This comes after the healing of the lame man at the gate of the temple. The people marveled at this act. However, Peter said, you did what you did through ignorance, but God revealed His coming through the mouth of the prophets and that Christ should suffer and die. Therefore, repent of your ignorance and sinful disobedience and be restored. Through this message, God was giving them another chance for redemption. Repentance is not only a change of mind but a change of heart.

Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Do not live according to the custom or pattern of this current age. We cannot follow the example of the world community and expect to draw near to God. The customs and behavior of our world system are repulsive to God. His command is, “Be ye holy; for I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:16. And again in 2 Corinthians 2:16, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,..” A revelation of Jesus Christ will compel the true believer to desire and seek after a life of holiness. (To be continued)