Believers be Ready

Believers be ready
Jesus told this parable,
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men 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. I tell you the truth, 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 second or third watch of the night.  
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 12:35-40.
The apostle Peter obviously believed those words because he wrote,
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”2 Peter 3:10.
What is said here is said to believers in Christ Jesus. We believe that Jesus will one day return to this earth to judge all mankind. As believers in Christ it is important that Jesus finds us faithfully serving Him.
All too many people go to church on Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas worship God and do nothing else. The rest of the time they do their own thing.
Jesus told us,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Now I know we can’t all be missionaries, pastors or evangelist. But we can serve in our local church, be it as an usher, teacher, or even a cleaner. We can visit the sick in hospital and prisoners.
James the half brother of Jesus said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
So the question becomes, If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus are you serving him to the best of your ability?
Please think about it.

Belief

Belief
The Apostle Peter writes,
“First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  
They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”  
But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  
By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”2 Peter 3:3-10
Peter here warns the church that in the last days scoffers will arise ridiculing what believers in Christ Jesus believe. They will mockingly ask where is Christ. Why hasn’t he returned. Such things are happening today.
Peter however points out that it’s not that Jesus will not return or that God does not exist. It is because God is patient. He wants to give everyone a chance to receive the saving grace that comes through Jesus Christ.
The key to accepting the grace of God is that you must first be looking and acknowledge that God exists. That takes faith.
The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.” 

                                                              Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                 Hebrews 11:6.

For some people having faith in something they cannot see, especially when it come to God is a very difficult thing.
It is easy to believe in something you can see feel or smell. It is much harder to believe in something you cannot see.
Still God does show us He is around. The psalmist said,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                                       Psalm 19:1-3.

Even science is starting to show us that the Universe was indeed created.
Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics stated,
“Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural’) plan.”
The late Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of our generation said, “It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us,” Stephen Hawking.
Sadly however no matter how much proof is given to some people they still will not believe in God. That however is their choice. A choice given to them by God.
It is a choice you the reader must make. For there will come a time when Christ will return.
If the apostle Peter is right and I believe he is “...the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” 2 Peter 3:10
The question thus becomes if Christ were to return today where would you be?
Please think about it.

A thief in the night

A thief in the night

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." 
1 Thessalonians 5:1,2

The Fourth Man
Although it’s six thirty-nine, dawn has not yet broken on this cold winter’s morning.  All around the suburban landscape lies covered, within a blanket of new fallen snow.
On the roads, the morning commute is slowly beginning.  As of yet, however, there are few cars.  All around, there is a peace.  Almost, like the calm before the storm.
Two cars, pull off the street and into the empty church parking lot.  Their tires making the snow squeak, as they move over it.  Coming to a halt, the occupants, three middle-aged men climb out, greet each other and enter the church.
Before the altar, in the silence of the sanctuary, each man kneels.
Within this holy place, the presence of God is so very real.  His Holy power can be felt as it fills the temple.
From my vantage point in the balcony I watch as all three are raptured leaving me...
                                                                Alone.
Are you ready for the coming of Christ. Over the years I’ve entered into many discussions as to when Christ will return. The fact is however that we simply do not know. Jesus told this parable,
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  
The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 
“ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 
“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
                                                                                                      Matthew 25:1-13.
As Christians we all need to be ready for the return of Christ. We need to be doing the Lords work. We need to be serving Him in what ever way we can.
We also need to be worshipping Him in spirit and in truth.
Think about it,