Thought for Saturday, September 15th

September 15, 2012

Get Ready – Be Prepared

“Before filling your wheelbarrow, point it in the direction you intend to go.”

-       B. A. Mello

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2 Peter 3:3-14

There is only one way to get ready to face eternity: that is if you want to have assurance and peace of mind to know your eternal home Is less than terrifying and abominable: and that is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Failure to do that simply means you have chosen an eternity of pain, suffering, anguish, torment and despair.

But is getting ready for eternity and being prepared to face eternity the same thing?

Scripture tells us that it is appointed unto man that he will die and after his death he will face God’s judgment.  Can we prepare ourselves then in some way to face eternity?  I contend that while we can not escape what God has told us we will face, we can do many things while we are waiting for that day; to lesson the humiliation and embarrassment that we might otherwise face if we did not make the potential preparations that are available to us to make.

In fact scripture also tells us that when we obey God, follow Hs will and honor Him in the things we say and do; we are laying up treasures in Heaven in the form of rewards and jewels for our crown of life.

Are you ready to face eternity?  Do you know Jesus in a personal and real way?

And if you do: are you preparing for the day that you will see Him face to face?

Today’s Prayer 

Father, I know I am ready for eternity: and I thank you for your gift of salvation that makes this knowledge possible: but sometimes I am a bit remiss in my preparations for our literal encounter: so help me to be more diligent as I await our meeting to prepare for that day.

“I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
    My life was in his hands.
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call “

-  Lyrics from ‘He Knows My Name’ by Tommy Walker