Are You Ready?
The question above is asked in various situations. Often, parents will ask this of their children as the young ones want to experience some exciting new event in which they have never participated. A husband occasionally asks his wife this in exasperation, after he feels she’s had adequate time to prepare for departure from home. Of course, hubby forgets he has far less grooming to do, and therefore needs less time in this case. Most of the time his frustration is unfounded, as the wife realizes there is ample time allotted to arrive at the planned destination.
We spend much of our lives “getting ready” for one thing or another. Is not life a series of events, some in which we have never participated, while others are repetitive in nature? Most events require some level of readiness or preparation. Rarely do “spur of the moment” preparations produce the desired results. Very quickly “grabbing” some clothes from the closet and donning them might result in one with mismatched garments. Surely, we don’t want to appear in public this way. When careful consideration is made toward the desired result, if good planning is done, and if the plan is followed properly, a more harmonious outcome is achieved.
There is an event all will face, and this question needs to be asked of all. It is about eternity. Every soul will spend eternity in one of two places. At the end of time, one will either enter the Heavenly abode to be with God, or they will enter eternal condemnation in pain, torment, and suffering, forever separated from God. We are granted time in this life to ‘get ready’. Additionally, after doing as God Commands in His New Testament Law to become His child, one must remain prepared (ready) as we don’t know how long our lives will be. Won’t it be awful if we fail to prepare properly and end up lost? Sadly, many are “banking” on haphazard or hurried measures for their readiness for eternity.
In 1886, Will Thompson wrote the beautiful hymn “There’s A Great Day Coming”, that shows the finality of all human life on earth. In it, he expressed the certainty of final judgment and the necessity of becoming and staying ready. The song also points out the rejection of those that make inadequate preparations or fail to get ready.
There's a great day coming,
A great day coming,
There's a great day coming by and by,
When the saints and the sinners shall
be parted right and left,
Are you ready for that day to come?
There's a bright day coming,
A bright day coming,
There's a bright day coming by and by,
But its brightness shall only come
to them that love the Lord,
Are you ready for that day to come?
There's a sad day coming,
A sad day coming,
There's a sad day coming by and by,
When the sinner shall hear His doom,
"Depart, I know ye not!"
Are you ready for that day to come?
Refrain:
Are you ready? Are you ready?
Are you ready for the judgment day?
Are you ready? Are you ready?
for the judgment day?
Sadly, many claim to be ready for that spoken of in 1Thess. 4:16-17, having made preparation for eternity in accordance with man’s teaching. In reality, the passage that best fits those who plan for eternity according to their own will or the doctrines of men is 2Thess. 1:8-9. The outcome depicted in these two passages are diametrically opposed.
Are You Ready? Sure you are! The question is, “For what are you ready?” Have you made preparation for eternity according to what God has stated in His New Testament Word? Have you compared the provisions you have made against God’s Word? Have you been honest in that evaluation? If not, it won’t be a “bright day” in which you’ll begin eternity in the presence of the glory of God. It will be a “sad day” indeed, for your soul will be lost forever, eternally separated from God and His glory. Take the time to get ready now while you can. If you love God and want to be with Him forever, go to His Word and do what it teaches to ensure that you are truly ready in accordance with His plan.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
