Jesus is Coming Back….Are you Ready?

A year or two ago, my daughter went to school with her laptop for a class project. She forgot to charge the computer and did not take her charger with her.

 

I likened her level of preparedness to the parable of the ten virgins in the Bible.

 

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a story of ten virgins in a bridal party. Five were wise and came adequately prepared with their lamps and an extra supply of oil. The other five were foolish and did not come with additional oil. While the foolish ones went to purchase more oil, the bridegroom arrived. Only the five conscientious virgins entered into the wedding banquet while the door was shut on the five foolish ones.

 

The bridegroom is Jesus Christ (Mark 2:19-20), and the parable refers to His return for His bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:25-27).

 

The truth, fact, and absolute reality is that Jesus is DEFINITELY coming back. Whether or not anyone believes it, He is still coming back.

 

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only…….Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:36,44

 

So, ARE YOU READY?

 

Have you accepted Him as Savior and Lord?

Salvation is the first step and prerequisite in being prepared for the return of Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus into the world to save the world through Him. All who sincerely call upon Jesus’ name, yield to Him, accept Him as Lord, Savior, Son of God, and the only way to God become saved and receive eternal life.

 

If you have not committed your life to Jesus, you need to first of all REPENT, change your mind about sin, turn wholeheartedly to God and accept His forgiveness (Luke 5:32, Acts 2:38, 17:30, 26:20, Romans 2:4). Then “openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, (and) you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NLT

 

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

 

Are you on fire for God?

The oil in the parable represents the presence of the Holy Spirit, who lives and dwells in the spirits of believers (1 Corinthians 6:19, 1Corinthians 3:16). Therefore, as a believer, are you yielded to the Holy Spirit? Are you walking in the Spirit or the flesh (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:5-9)? Do you have the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? Is your life marked by holiness or slothfulness and sin (Hebrew 12:14)?

 

Are you quick to forgive, or do you snuff out your fire by holding onto grudges till the last minute?

 

Are you too busy with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches that the Word has little value to you, or do you have your eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)?

 

Do you have your mind consistently fixed on eternal things or earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2)? Are you obeying the great commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)?

 

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:11-13

 

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 1:13

 

Are your batteries fully charged?

Are you abiding in Christ?

 

Abiding in Him means remaining in fellowship with Him (John 15:5-6). Dwelling in His presence, communicating with Him, walking in His love, meditating on His Word, and obeying Him.

 

So I ask you the first question again!

Jesus is coming back ….. ARE YOU READY?

 

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-48

 

“And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28

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Except where indicated, Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV.

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