Are You Ready?

Introduction

For those who attended service Christmas Day, I talked about the people of Bethlehem not being ready to receive a Savior. The shepherds were not ready and had to be told about a sign by an angel that the Savior has arrived. The innkeeper was not ready because he make no room in the inn for this most important person. And the town folks of Bethlehem were not ready and they slept in their homes as this Messiah was entering the world.

And then I made this statement: Just as the people in and around Bethlehem were not ready when Jesus arrived the first time; I believe people today are not going to be ready for Jesus’ coming again.

Just in the time that I have been pastor at Bala Chitto, I have noticed a change in people’s readiness. Think about it, in this world, we really aren’t ready for much. We don’t decide to do something until the last second ten we rush around crazily . If we are going out of town, some of you are packing your bag the morning you are suppose to be leaving. And don’t raise your hand, but I can image that many of you barely got ready on time to get here before the first song started. Whatever happen to the expression, I would rather be an hour early then a minute late.

Being a last minute person is probably not a good way to live this live. But I can tell you with certainty, being a last minute person is definite not a good way to live your spiritual life.

Let me share with you the Scripture that will bring this point home that you always ought to be spiritual ready for Christ’s return. And in this Scripture, there are three ways to know if you are ready. Turn with me to Luke 12: 35-37.

Scripture

Luke 12:35–37 (NKJV)

Parable of the Expectant Steward

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. ”

Point #1

For me to be ready for Jesus’ return, He must be my master.

36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master,

In this verse, there are men plural, more than one man but they are only waiting for one master- their master.

The Bible makes it very clear, that you can only serve one Master but there are other persons and things competing to be your master. In the Scripture, I am about to read you money attempts to be your master.

Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

But money is not the only thing competing to be our God. The devil would love it if you never turn your life over to Christ and allow him to be your master.

John 8:44 (NKJV)

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do...

But I can go on and name other things that want to be your master. For some their work is their master. Everything about their life revolves around work. For others, it might be success. They might have reached a level of fame and recognition and they don’t want to give that up to follow Christ. And some has made their flesh their god. It is all about satisfying their flesh.

Here is the big problem for those of us who has made Jesus Christ our master. All these other masters want to knock our master off from the top of our pedestal and install themselves as master of our life.

So we are told in verse 35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.” Be ready for what is going to come against you. Girding your waist was a fighting position. You were ready for action. And to have your lamp burning meant you were looking and basically expecting an enemy was coming at you. And in this case, the enemy is anything that replaces God as master in your life.

So, let me ask you a question, as we await His coming is He your master?

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)

5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.

That is what I am asking you to do. Can you say today that God is your master? If not, you are not ready for His coming.

Point #2

For me to be ready for Christ’s return, I must know that I am His servant.

36... that when he (the master) comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.

These servants were watching and waiting for opportunity to serve their master. These servants were not up at that hour of the night because they could not sleep. They were up and aware because they saw it as an opportunity to serve their master.

I am afraid today that church members don’t go looking for opportunities to serve Christ like these servants looked for opportunities to serve their master in this story.

In business there is something called the Pareto Principle. I am not sure you heard the name of the principle before but I am sure that you have heard what the principle says. It goes like this that twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work.

And I am afraid to tell you that principle holds true for Bala Chitto Baptist Church. In terms of our offering there are a few that provide most of the income of the church. And unfortunately this year, some of those few who were the givers has left the church because of various reasons and our church budget is $10,000.00 in the hole for 2022. I can not remember a time in my Pastorate at Bala Chitto that we missed our budget by so much.

At the beginning of the year each year, as a church sit down and do a long range plan of what will happen in the next year. Sad to say, some of the things that we planned in 2022 did not get done because we were unable to do them because we did not have enough workers to pull it off.

There is a Scripture I want to call to your attention in Romans 12 where Paul describes the church as a body made up of many parts but all working together. If we are living as a church with twenty percent doing eighty percent of the work, then we are going to fail meeting our task as God’s servants.

Listen God’s people ought to be serving while they awaiting Christ return. When Jesus comes, He doesn’t want to see a bunch of Christian sitting and waiting. He want to see doing Christians. Can you say today that you are serving? If not, you are not prepared for His coming.

Point 3

What God is asking of me to do to be ready for His coming is hard. It is hard to always keep Him as my master. It is hard to push myself to find ways to serve, I prefer to be served. But the reward is great.

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

Jesus does not deny what He is asking you to you is difficulty. It is not easy picking up your cross and carrying it daily. But it is possible, because God through the Holy Spirit lives within you. And I know you know the Scripture that says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

But He does tell us is that the reward is great. One day we will be sitting down at His banqueting tablet and it is a big one too, and He will serve us. What an experience that will be.

Which brings me to the big question. Are you ready.

Let us pray!