Praise the Lord, Grace & Peace great people of our Great God…JESUS!

Lately I have really been making an assessment concerning the aloofness that many of the children of God and the unregenerated have, concerning the coming of the Lord! It really disturbs me, because the signs of the time are so prevalent, and proves that Jesus Christ is soon to return for His bride; the Church! Many have comfortably embraced false doctrine, and perpetually dispel real truth, and have proven to be truly lovers of this world more than lovers of God. The lack of the desire to produce spiritual fruit, which is derived from the Holy Spirit, proves that there are many who are spiritually sick; who are not concerned in becoming, nor staying whole. Hence, for this Golden Nugget the Lord has impressed upon me the thought “Are You READY, to Stay READY, to Be READY?” To provoke further gospel provocation, I present the following scriptures to support my premise!

(Mat 24:36-42) “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

(1Pe 3:13-16) “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

I would like to dwell for a few moments on the word “READY.” If we consider this word deeply, we will find that it is a word that warrants immense depth with suggestive power, as used by the Holy Ghost in Word of God. The apostle Peter implores us in 1 Pet. 1:5 as it pertains to our salvation as true believers, that we be “kept by the power of God through faith to salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.” Hence, we are taught that salvation is ready to be revealed at this moment; for we are, as John tells us, in “the last times.”

 My brothers and sisters, please know that the word salvation being used in this scripture, is not just confined to our soul’s being delivered from death and perdition; but also means that our bodies are being delivered from the power of death and corruption, which will soon be confirmed at the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are presently walking out the salvation of our soul, as we perpetually live for the Lord in this present life; as stated in the scripture “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls … Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

This is further confirmed by the Hebrew writer in Heb. 9:28, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, apart from sin, to salvation. “

Hence, this consummation of our salvation is ready to be revealed at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! As Saints of God, we should perpetually believe this; as we look for Him to return for us at any moment.  There is literally no lack, as it pertains to the efficacious work found in Jesus Christ; as testified by His Holy Spirit, that nothing will hinder “the shout of the archangel and the trump of God” this day, this night, or this hour. All things concerning the fulfillment of His coming based on the word of God is complete! It is a fact that atonement has been made, our redemption has been accomplished, and God has been glorified by the personal work of Jesus Christ; by the fact that Jesus sits presently on the throne of Majesty in the heavens. Hence, we who are in him know that the moment Jesus Christ took His seat upon the throne; can now perpetually say that our “salvation is ready to be revealed.”

My brothers and sisters, salvation could not be said to be ready until the divine groundwork was laid in the death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But when this glorious work of God was accomplished, it validated what was said in Psalms 110:1 “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”

Please note that the apostle Peter gives us additional insight, and application in the Word of God  found, 1 Peter 4:5, where he also refers to some “who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”

God has gone to the utmost in demonstrating His grace; and man has gone to the utmost in demonstrating their guilt. I adduce that both have reached their climax in the death of Jesus Christ; and the fact that He has been crowned with glory, and seated on the throne of glory.

Saints, it is assuring to know that salvation is ready to be revealed with everlasting joy for God’s redeemed who continue in Him, yet knowing on the other hand that judgement is ready to be revealed also for all those who continue to neglect God’s Word, which will result in everlasting misery! The scriptures validate this in Mark 9:43-46 “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell (the Lake of Fire), into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Please continue to be cognizant that one is as “ready“ as the other. GOLDEN NUGGET!

My brothers and sisters, judgement is actually impending. It is “ready” at this moment to fall upon the head of all the unrepentant. The entire history of the sinful human nature of man in this world, has been wound up and defined. The cross of Jesus Christ has perfectly manifest the guilt, and ruin of the human race. It has actually put an end to man’s probationary season; and from that hour until now, reveals the true position of this sinful world; and each individual man, woman, and child classified as sinner. Those who by nature of the first Adam are defined as a culprit; who have been tried, found guilty, and condemned! But because of the grace of God, the sentence has not as of yet been executed upon them! Thank God he renders grace & mercy, until salvation is received by choosing Jesus! Act 17:30-32 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.” GOLDEN NUGGET!

Let me elaborate more precisely on my premise thought! When I read Luke 12:40 it jumped out at me! It gives a warning of immediacy… “Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not.”

If salvation is “ready” to be revealed, and if judgement is “ready” to be executed, what becomes of us but to be “ready” also!

My question to you is, in what does this readiness consist? And how are we to be ready? It strikes me that there are four things that must be included in the answer.

First, we must be ready in our profession; second, we must be ready in our life style, third we must be ready in our conscience, and fourth we must be ready in our heart. The first two are founded upon the work of Christ for us; the last two are connected with the work of the Holy Spirit in us. If we are simply resting by faith on the finished work of Christ, we are leaning exclusively on what He has done and who He is; then it proves we are ready in our life style, having the assurance that we are going back with Him when he comes! Heb 9:24-28 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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.”

My brothers and sisters, I am so thankful for this powerful gospel of which I am not ashamed of, and the perpetual desire to study the Bible for perpetual illumination. But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that there is an excessive amount of laxity, and non-conformity among many who say they profess Gods word today! I’ve notice with apprehension, that so far as the intellect goes as it pertains to divine truth; that their lifestyle, deportment, and habits; reveal that they are not “ready.” Matt. 25:10 warns us against the lack of consciousness to stay ready! “And while they [the foolish virgins] went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut.”

How solemn! How awfully solemn! Those who were ready went in, and those who were not ready were shut out. Those who have life in Christ, who are led by the Holy Ghost which dwells in them, will be ready. But those mere professors, who have a form of godliness and yet deny the power thereof, who have truth in their head and on their lip, but not in the heart; will be cast into outer darkness; the eternal Lake of Fire, a place of everlasting misery and gloom!

My brothers and sister, I beseech all of us to be more aware of redeeming the time that is before us! We sometime live our life so aimlessly in Jesus Christ, that it has become comfortable to conform to erroneous societal norms! Hence, we become so desensitized in hearing what the Holy Spirit is trying to say, and how He is trying to lead us; according to the faith we exercise in Christ Jesus. I truly believe that we have adopted the concept of Anti-Nomianism, which teaches that because we are saved by Grace it makes no difference how we live and behave! But I am sure that any of us who are part of a good BIBLE based JESUS doctrinal church; that emphasizes holiness and not mess, should be cognizant of what Jesus requires out of our life! GOLDEN NUGGET!

In the epistle of James 2:19-26, it conveys to the church “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Hence, our fruits should be manifest through the life we live before the world. Let us not be ignorant of the devil’s devices, for the scriptures convey to us in Pro 12:1-2 “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.”

I began to think about the Apostles Paul’s powerful statement of how he was not worthy to be a child of God to represent Jesus, but Jesus qualified him for a work! He states in 1Co 15:9-11 “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.”

I pray this is our expression of appreciation! I know that I am not worthy based on my past to preach and teach this glorious message of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, but His Grace has made it possible! That’s why you and I have to strive to occupy until the coming of the Lord!

Paul knew that he would see Jesus again on that great day, and so will we if we continue to abide in Christ. Hence, he gives us the following encouraging scriptures…1Co. 15:50-58 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Saints, time is winding down; the signs are all around us that Jesus is about to descend on the same cloud that he ascended on as referenced in Act 1:10-11 “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.”

I beseech all of us to take a deeper assessment of where we are in the Lord Jesus Christ today, for it is not an anomaly that many have fallen asleep concerning what is takes to make our election and calling sure; in order to go back with Him when he comes for His bride. The Apostle Paul seriously emphasizes this in 1Th. 4:13-18 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

I pray that we all take more of an aggressive posture concerning this upcoming great event! I remind myself every day that I am living this life in Christ Jesus to live again! Hence, I remain cognizant as I perpetually ask myself and you; “Are You READY, to Stay READY, to Be READY?” Please strive to have a “JESUS DAY!”