A recent question someone asked us is as follows and this is just part of the question, but the most important part:
How should I REALLY prepare for the Lords soon return? Our response was, You represent even more people some of whom are Christians, who are asking the same type of thing. First of all we are never alone in our situations. But Luke 21:28 & 21:34-36, gives us some clear advice from Jesus really it all comes down to prayer. All true Christians who are pursuing holiness will have all their prayers answered soon. Luke 21:28 reads: When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!" (NCV)
Then Jesus said about being ready in 21:34-36:
34 "Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly, 35 like a trap on all people on earth. 36 So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man."
So we must pray for spiritual strength because to Jesus that is what's more important. We may or may not be ready materially, with "emergency supplies," or whatever, but how much is enough when it comes to that anyway?
What can a water filter do about the water that will be turned to blood at the 2nd angel trumpet of Revelation 8:8? Or what ointment will help with the stinging locusts of Revelation 9? Answer: There isn't any, so we must trust in God now, so we can escape these things as we are told we can. Unfortunately not all will as we know, but some will.
Revelation 3:10, also tells us that some will be kept from the time of testing that is coming to test the whole earth, which we know will be the last great tribulation period. To be kept from is similar to escape, it means some won't be here physically.
You can be sure to be counted in that number if your daily prayer is that of Luke 21:36 and even the model prayer that Jesus told us to pray which is known as the Lord's prayer of Matthew 6:9-15.
The key to the Lord's prayer is the part about repentance. This is why I personally pray a form of this prayer daily. Not in a liturgical, ritualistic sort of way, but from the heart and in my own words.
If we are praying daily for a specific readiness of Jesus soon return, then we will be ready for him to snatch us away when he calls. It is becoming more apparent every day that it is any day now and many who study these things think it can't go much past this year or early 2012. I am not predicting a day or hour myself, but I can see the last days signs which have been on the increase since the year 2000.
Jesus said when they begin, for us to look up for our redemption draws near. Well the fact is they have begun.
Your frustration is shared by myself and millions of other Christians worldwide, many of whom are being Martyred as I write this, to the tune of 500 a day. Losing your temper is not always a sin by the way. There is a righteous anger, that we share with God about all that is happening. The key is not sinning when we get angry. But if we do lose it and sin, thank God we have an advocate in Jesus who hears and forgives our sin daily.
So the key to being ready, is keeping and exercising the posture of humbleness and repentance before the Lord. Some people who believe we don't need to repent of future sin are in a dangerous place. I am not saying this is you, but it is a growing false teaching that will cause many to be left behind to see if they can get it right during the time of testing. Many will be saved during that time, but I would not want to be around for that myself.
Bottom line is you don't have to be. You can be eternally secure and ready when Jesus calls. Walk the walk and way of holiness, which at it's core is repentance when needed. For most of us that would be daily. Pray constantly and about everything and be more specific than you ever have before. Pray for peace, not only in your own life, but in the lives of others as well and pray for the other believers who are being persecuted today.
God Bless you and don't hesitate to keep asking questions. We all need answers from the word of God and we can learn much from each other as we all were given different gifts to be used in the body of Christ. Others are depending on us to do what we have been called to do. |
| RealChristian.net and all information contained on this website is copywritten and all rights are reserved. However, permission is granted to copy, reproduce and further distribute any material on these pages for non-commercial purposes, not including links outside this Web page © Thank you. RealChristian.net 2007 © |
Web Hosting powered by Network Solutions® |