On Your Mark, Get Set…

Jesus and the apostles gave several warnings and instructions regarding the importance of our readiness for the second appearing of Jesus Christ. Anyone who believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God wants to be ready for His second appearing. What did Jesus and the apostles tell us about being ready?

Watch, stand fast, be brave and strong…

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. But of that day no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Blessed are those servants whom the Master, when He comes, will find watching. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

Do not sleep, be sober, take heed, watch and pray…

“Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming. In the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning lest, coming suddenly, He find you sleeping.”

“Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

From A Collection Of Scripture Passages

It will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth…

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak; and do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that the day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

From A Collection Of Scripture Passages

Jesus’ Authority As King Assures You Can Stay Ready

Jesus had been teaching large crowds of people around the Sea of Galilee and in the evening of one day, He said to the disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” The disciples had just began to follow Jesus, so they had no way of knowing He had the authority of a king. As they proceeded across the lake, Jesus was asleep in the boat when a ferocious storm came up, causing waves to break into the boat. The waves were so large and so persistent, that the boat was quickly filling up with water. The disciples were afraid they might die in the storm, so they woke Jesus up.

Remember, Jesus has absolute authority as the King of kings, meaning, no one, and no thing, can stop or hinder what He plans to do. They were crossing the sea because Jesus had said, “Let us go over to the other side.” He planned on crossing the sea, to the other side, with His disciples; and He knew they would cross to the other side. The disciples didn’t know this, so they feared for their lives. When Jesus awoke, He ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.

Just like those disciples who were in the boat with Jesus, and who were on their way across the sea because Jesus had planned on crossing over with them; kids in the kingdom of God are walking with Christ in this world, and they are on their journey of walking the straight and narrow path in life for the purpose of joining Jesus Christ in heaven. Along life’s journey, it might get rough to follow Jesus. Persecution may be brought down upon you. Deception may arise to make the straight path look different than a straight path when it really is, and always will be, a straight path.

Much later, just before Jesus was delivered up to be crucified, He prayed to the Father for the disciples and He prayed, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” You see, when Jesus asked you to follow Him, like he asked the disciples to cross over to the other side of the sea, with Him, as the King of kings, He has the authority to ensure that it happens. With His authority as King, He asked His Father to keep you from the evil one. Nothing can snatch you away from Him.

“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

Nothing can stop you from being ready for Jesus Christ, if He returns during your life. Nothing can stop you from being ready to enter into the kingdom of God, if you die before Jesus Christ returns. Persecution cannot stop you from being ready. The evil one cannot stop you from being ready. Temptation cannot stop you from being ready. Deception cannot stop you from being ready.

So, watch, stand fast, be brave and strong. Do not sleep, be sober, take heed, watch and pray!

Get Ready, Be Ready, Stay Ready, Get Set

On your mark, get set…