Are You Living Ready?

Luke 12:35–40 NKJV

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 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. 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. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Ignorance and Apathy

People are ignorant of the Lord’s return.

People are apathetic regarding the Lord’s return.

In his message, the preacher proclaimed, “The problem in the church today is ignorance and apathy.” One man in the pew turned to his friend and said, “What does he mean by that?” The friend replied, “I don’t know, and I don’t care!”

It is important to KNOW!

It is important to CARE!

A Life of Betrothal

Marriage in this life is a picture of the coming marriage between Christ and His Church

Ephesians 5:31–32 NKJV

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

At the moment of salvation, we become part of the bride of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:22-33)

2 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

The betrothed bride is set apart for her groom.

The betrothed bride prepares herself to meet her groom.

The betrothed bride remains ready to go at a moment’s notice.

The betrothed bride keeps her lamp, a sign that she is still waiting, burning bright.

Jesus has gone away to prepare a place for His bride.

John 14:2–3 NKJV

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

There is a Wedding Coming!

Revelation 19:7–9 NKJV

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

The Importance of Being Ready

Matthew 25:1–13 NKJV

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Blessing of Being Ready

Luke 12:37–38 NKJV

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. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

The Tragedy of Not Being Ready

Luke 12:39–40 NKJV

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Response to the Word

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Bridegroom in salvation?

Are you ready to meet Him when He comes?