“Therefore
thus will I do unto thee, O Israel:
and because I will do this unto thee, prepare
to meet thy God, O Israel.”
Amos 4:12
In speaking to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “…I had rather speak five words with
my understanding… than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” (1
Corinthians 14:19). Although Paul is making a figurative comparison, can you
think of any other “five words” that we need more “understanding”
of than “prepare to meet thy God”?
How to be prepared is perhaps best illustrated by the last mention of “prepared” in the Bible.
“And
I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband.” Revelation 21:2
Anyone who has ever been involved with a big wedding knows
that it takes months of preparation to get ready. So it is spiritually, if we
want to be “adorned” for our husband,
Jesus Christ, we need to be planning for it now. The first step towards
marriage is through becoming engaged by accepting Christ’s proposal, issued by
the church and the “Spirit”.
“And
the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
The Boy Scouts motto to “Be Prepared” in a physical sense
should be the Christian motto in a spiritual sense. Although we don’t know when
Christ will return, we do know that he is preparing for it!
“…I go to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again…”
John 14:2b, 3a
Friend, pause and think for a moment and ask yourself these
questions, am I ready to meet God? If not, is it because I’ve never been saved?
Has there ever been a time and place that I can honestly think back to that
I’ve personally asked Jesus Christ to take up residence in my heart and become
Lord of my life? If not, ask him to come in right now as best you know how, by
faith.
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son
of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40
If you are saved, consider the first mention of the word “prepare” in the Bible and ask yourself
these questions, am I ready to meet God? Do I know Christ only as saviour or
have I made him Lord of my life and surrendered all areas of my life to him? Is
the Holy Spirit a guest in my body or a prisoner? What areas of his “habitation” in my innermost person is he
convicting me about? Am I exalting him?
“The
LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
my father's God, and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2
Just as Eve was an “help
meet” for Adam, the church is to be an “help
meet” for Christ. I’d love to “help”
you “prepare” to “meet the Lord in the
air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17), just let me know how…
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