Are You Really Ready?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:21-23

This scripture, spoken by Jesus, shows us that not all who call themselves Christians will not make it to heaven. Satan is the father of all lies and he has deceived many in to having a false sense of security. Also, there are many false gospels being preached today. Jesus warned of them in the same chapter of Matthew."Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." Matthew 24:11

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew, shows us how many profess to be Christians, but truly are not.

"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 werefoolish. "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. Matthew 25:1-13

Many carry a "lamp" of profession of Christianity, but have nothing in their hearts, no love for God or desire to serve Him. Our light should so shine before men with good works and an outward love for Christ and our fellow man. This light can not shine, without true faith in Christ and love for God.,

An outward profession may light a man along in this world, but the damps
of the valley of the shadow of death will put out such a light. The coming of Christ will come quickly. Death can also come quickly. If we are prepared and ready we will be fine, we will spend eternity with God. For those who wait and do not prepare, it will be too late. Many will seek admission into heaven when it is too late. The vain confidence of hypocrites may carry them far here on earth, but the unexpected summons of death or the sudden return of Christ will be a sad ending for them. It will be the beginning of eternal separation from the God they claimed to have known.

Jesus tells us that the way that leads to destruction is broad, and the narrow and difficult way, is the way that leads to life. He also says that few find it.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14
"There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25

Just believing in God is not enough. The Bible says in James that even the demons believe, and they shudder. (James 2:19) Jesus spoke often of bearing fruit. He said that those trees that do not bear fruit are cut down and thrown in to the fire. So it will be if we bear no fruit.

"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
"So then, you will know them by their fruits." Maatthew 7 18-20

We need to have a relationship with God. We need to obey Him and listen to Him. He wants to be first in our lives. In Matthew 10, Jesus says that we are to love Him more than our mother, father, son or daughter.

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is
not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not
worthy of Me.
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
"He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

God wants all of us. If we are going to "talk the talk", we need to "walk the walk". If we profess to be a Christian, we should have some fruit that we are bearing. There should be outward evidence. If the world can't tell you apart from the rest, you have to wonder, "Are you really what you profess to be?"


Are you really ready? Are you ready for the return of the Lord? Are you confident that you will be found "not guilty" when you stand before God, or will He say, "Depart from Me, I never knew you"?

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