Our Lord's Return is much closer than we realize. And we should do all we can to warn the world of what lies ahead and to urge readiness for that all-glorious event of His Second Coming. If there are signs visible now of Jesus' Second Coming, then the Rapture of the Church must be even closer. Are you ready? What can you do to stay ready? Here is a ten-point checklist you can use to examine yourselves...
1. Be Watchful (Matt 24:42-44) Jesus tells us - "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." The word "watch", from the Greek word gregoreuo, means, "give strict attention to, be cautious, active, to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one." Watching means not just looking, but laboring, working, and living in purity.
2. Have an Attitude of Prayer (Luke 21:36) Luke tells us: "Watch ye, therefore, and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Paul admonishes us to "pray without ceasing." (1 Thess. 5:17).
3. Be Faithful Stewards (Matthew 25:14-23) It is in view of our Lord's coming that Christ relates the story of a man going into a far country and giving various talents to his servants. Talents is a term for money, but this could also be interpreted to include the gifts and talents the Lord has given us. So, depending on the wise use of these talents, whether invested and producing more talents, or whether neglected, these servants are rewarded. For instance, we read of the servant who 'hid his lord's money' instead of investing it who is severely punished. To him our Lord says: "Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury." Indeed, how sad for many to have money hoarded away or have neglected and unused talents when they could have been used to help others or win the lost. Those servants who were faithful in the use of their talents were rewarded with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
4. Don't Live Carelessly (Lu.21:34-35) "Take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth." As the flood in Noah's day affected the entire earth, so we read the Rapture will be as a snare or trap that will affect the whole world. When our Lord appears the saints will be caught away, and those living carelessly will be left behind to go through the tribulation period. Like a trap springing shut, there will be no exit from this earth. That's why it pays to be ready, living lives of purity and service, witnessing, and winning the lost.
5. Don't Say He's Not Coming (Luke 12:45-46) "But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming: and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." Many people don't believe it is possible for a person who is a professing believer to be left behind with unbelievers at the rapture. But here is a servant who has said in his heart that the Lord is not coming back.
This attitude has caused him to live carelessly, eating and drinking as in Noah's day, enjoying the pleasures of life without regard to the soon-approaching rapture. He is also found mistreating his fellowman. What happens? The Bible says of this servant that he is cut in sunder, or cut off. This man does not lose his salvation for that is a gift to all who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but he loses his reward. For this Scripture would indicate again that Rapture is the reward of readiness. So, concerning this servant - the privilege that is rightfully his is denied him. For we read his portion is with the unbelievers. Instead of escaping the tribulation the indication is that he must go through it and prove his loyalty to Christ amidst the purifying and chastening fires of judgment.
This warning echoes Peter's statement in his second epistle, "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." (2 Peter 3:3-4; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
6. Forsake Iniquity (Matt 7:22-23) Jesus warns, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Notice, there were those representing our Lord, performing mighty works, doing miracles. Yet, our Lord at His coming says to them - "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
I think we're going to be in for some surprises when Christ comes. People we expected to see in positions of honor at the wedding table - perhaps even some of the big TV preachers - won't be there. If this Scripture tells us anything it is this - we must repent of sin if we would be ready for rapture, not persist in it, not excuse it, but forsake it. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we read: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
7. Don't Be Lukewarm (Rev. 3:16) Jesus warned the church at Laodicea, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." If we're going to call ourselves Christians, then let's be real, genuine followers of Christ. Let's stop playing church and begin serving God with purity of heart, Let's be on fire for God, witnessing, and laboring for Him.
8. Be Loving and Forgiving (James 5:8-9) James writes: "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold the judge standeth before the door." Has someone spoken ill of you, lied about you, mistreated you? Jesus tells us to pray for those who say all manner of evil against us. Don't hold a grudge and allow a root of bitterness to spring up within you (Hebrews 12:15). But always be ready to forgive others, as you have been forgiven by Christ.
9. Don't Get Caught Up in the Cares of Life (Philippians 4:5-6) Paul writes: "Let your moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing..." Again we read: "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not." (1 Corinthians 7:29-30). Jesus warned against the cares of life, how they were like weeds which swiftly grow and choke the Word within us, keeping it from bearing fruit (Luke 8:14, 21:34).
10. Be Filled with the Spirit (Matt. 25:1-13 ) In Matthew 25:1-13, our Lord gave a parable of ten virgins. All were looking forward to a wedding, and made the necessary preparation for the marriage. But when the bridegroom came only five were ready. If our Lord were to come today and only half of those who were looking for Him were ready to go back with Him, how sad and tragic that would be! And yet, this seems to be the indication of Holy Scripture. What was the secret of those who were ready? They had oil in their lamps, and their wicks were trimmed and ready.
The ties back in the point 7 above. Their lamps stayed filled - what they used they replaced. Their wicks were trimmed - they were working, laboring, and doing what they could to stay ready. The trials and tests of life can drain us and weaken us. We must not let our cares choke us, but we must stay filled and ready. On the other hand, the foolish virgins had a testimony at one time. They once were active in witnessing and serving. But they gradually lost interest because they never sought to stay filled with the Holy Spirit who comes to give power and victory over sin. Be filled with the Spirit is a command of God. And, in particular, in view of Christ's Coming, we need to allow Him to take over completely in our lives in order to be ready for His return.
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