Scripture says: I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other-"We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!"---suddenly everthing will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.
But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-4
So Jesus is coming back for the believers.....will you be taken off guard?
How could a person be "taken off guard by any of this?"
1. He/She may not know about God's plan for eternal life.
2. He/She may be deceived in thinking he is ready for Jesus return.
3. He/She may know in his heart that he/she is not ready...but chooses not to take the necessary steps to assure eternal life with God.
Any of the above have the same terrible results....eternal death! An eternity without the presence of God....only darkness, evil and the evil one!! This is an incredibly important question then.....are you ready? The choice is obvious...but the choice isn't necessarily easy!!
Choosing the only way....God's way...to eternal life means:
* Recognizing that you don't and can't measure up to God's standard of holiness. In order to live with God we must be sin free. We've all done our share of good and great things for others....but it is not enough...good deeds won't solve the sin problem in our lives.
Scripture says: ....and it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else. Romans 3:23
The penalty for sin.......is death!! (eternal death). Romans 7:23
* Uh oh! If we can't live a holy enough life to satisfy God's requirements for heaven and the penalty for even just one or two sins is death....what then is a person to do?
This is where Jesus visit to us becomes a life and death matter.....
Christ arrives right on time to make this (payment for sin) happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his
Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. (Romans 5:6-9)
It's time for a change...while there is still time!
Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. (Acts 3:19)
It just takes a simple request of forgiveness from anyone who recognizes and is sorry for their sin. "Jesus, please forgive my sins. I am very sorry for my sinful ways."
Saving is all his (God's) idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! (Ephesians 2:8)
It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God- "Jesus is my Master" - embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting thing right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!" (Romans 10:9-13)
Are you ready then?
Are you ready to receive God's free gift? If you are, you need to call on him in prayer. You can pray your own prayer, or, if you need help in praying, you can use the following sinner's prayer if you really want to make it your own confession.
Lord Jesus,
I know I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I know you died on the cross for me. I now turn from my sins and ask you to forgive me. I now invite you into my heart and life. I now trust you as Savior (in making things right with God) and follow you as Lord. Thank you for saving me. Amen.
Did you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins? (Confession of sin)
Did you ask him to save you? (Faith that Jesus will make things right)
Did you give Jesus freedom to work in your life (committment)
If yes, then ......WELCOME TO GOD'S FAMILY! Angels are rejoicing!
What do you do next?
1. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 10:13 and John 5:24
(Satan will try to tell you nothing happened...so be ready for him too!)
2. Find a Bible teaching church and tell the pastor or someone you know who is a Christian of your committment to Jesus. Consider baptism as taught by the Scripture in Acts 2:41-47.
3. You need food...spiritual food to grow on. (1 Peter 2:2-3) Find a church fellowship where you feel you can grow.
4. Jesus wants you to experience victory over sin in your daily life.
