“Are you ready?” are the words of a song we sing to encourage us to ask ourselves whether we are prepared to meet the Lord on the judgment day. To be ready is to be “prepared or available for service, action, or progress” (AHD, 1992, p.1504). “Are you ready?” is a good question, and the Bible speaks of several things for which a Christian must be ready. Let us consider some of these.
Christians should be ready to give. “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim 6:17-19). Perhaps our mind wants to think of someone richer than ourselves as the subject of this instruction, but the Bible teaches all of us that is “more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and that we should work not only to provide for ourselves but that we “may have something to give him who has need” (Eph 4:28). Saints are instructed to be a people who are “distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13). Opportunities to give and to share often come unexpectedly, but Christians should be prepared to jump right in to give and to share. While it is good to set aside something so that we are prepared to share with others, the example in Acts 4:32-37 teaches us to have a desirous and generous spirit and to be ready to sacrifice for brethren even when nothing has been set aside. What can you do to be prepared to share with others?
Christians should be ready to speak to others about the gospel. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet 3:15). Readiness to answer why we believe what we believe requires determination and study. We cannot expect to be ready if we do not give effort to study and to know the Scriptures as Timothy was instructed, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
Christians should be ready to suffer for the Way. “Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus’” (Acts 20:31). Paul had already written, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Paul’s attitude and readiness of mind to suffer for the cause of Christ is a worthy example to follow. Jesus wanted all His disciples to be ready to suffer, for He taught, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:10).
Finally, Jesus taught that we must be ready for His return if we want to enter heaven with Him. In the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins, when the bridegroom came, then “those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut” (Matt 25:10). “And the door was shut” – what sobering words! The time of preparation was over. The foolish who were not ready begged for the door to be opened but were told, “I do not know you” (Matt 25:12). Inside the door is eternal life; outside the door is everlasting punishment. The unready were outside the door. Today is the day of preparation; you know neither the time of your death, nor the day the Lord will return, nor what a day may bring forth. You need to be prepared today for that day. Are you ready?
-Larry Jones