Are You Ready?*

The title of this message is the spiritual question of our time. It seems for much of the Church that we're not ready for the days ahead, and the return of Christ. The people of Jesus' time kept asking Him for a sign from heaven. Jesus remarked on their lack of spiritual discernment telling them that although they could discern the coming weather by observing the signs in the sky, they couldn't discern the signs of God: "O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Mt. 16:1-4). Jesus told them that only the sign of Jonah, a resurrection from the dead confirming God's Word and authority, would be given to such an evil and wicked generation that seeks after a sign, when they have already refused to discern the sign that had been given to them, which was Christ Himself. Jesus also pointed out that others who HAD discerned the signs of the times in the past, even strangers to Israel like the Ninevites who received the prophetic warning of Jonah, or the Queen of the South who sought out Solomon for his wisdom, would rise up and judge this generation who refused to discern the signs of the times (Lk. 11:29-32). Because of his faith in God, Noah acted when he was warned of the coming judgment: "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he cndemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."(Heb. 11:7). The fact that Noah heard, believed, and acted, not only saved his own house, but condemned the rest of the world for not hearing, believing and acting on the warning signs given to Noah. Are we receiving these warnings from the things written in scripture? Will we stand condemned also as we ignore the servants of God who are bringing us the warning signs of judgment? Jesus said that we can understand the sign of the fig tree, that when its leaves turn green it tells us that summer is coming. "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things (the signs detailed in Mt. 24), know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Mt. 24:32-34). Jesus was speaking of the signs of wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, persecution of believers, false prophets and false Christs, which would signal the beginning of tribulation and the coming end of the age. All we will be given are these signs, by which we will know the time draws near. We will not be given the day nor the hour of its approach: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only (Mt. 24:36-39, Mk. 13:28-32). Because of this, Jesus warns us of what we need to do: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh...lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.(Mk. 13:35-37). Will Christ find us sleeping? Will He find us so taken up with the cares of this world, even after He has told us to seek His kingdom first? Jesus warned that this is the very snare that will come to all who dwell on the earth. The moment we look away by the distractions and cares of life is the very moment when He may come. So again, He says, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of ten virgins who were appointed to go with the bridegroom when he appears, yet all fell asleep. However, there were five wise out of the ten, who had extra oil for their lamps, and were well prepared for the sudden appearance of the bridegroom. Five were foolish, and did not have on hand the extra oil that would be needed. The five foolish misjudged the times, and had to rush out to buy more oil when the bridegroom suddenly appeared. They missed his coming, and were not able to go into the bridal chamber with him. The door was shut against them, as the door of the ark had been shut by God, closing Noah and his family in the ark, and the wicked outside the ark (see Gen. 7:11-16). As in the case in Noah's time, once the door had shut them out, it is irreversible. When the five foolish virgins came to the shut door saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us", he answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Jesus concluded the parable again saying, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 25:1-13). Although the five foolish virgins had been part of the ten appointed for the wedding, their lack of preparedness, their lacking of the oil of light or the oil of the Holy Spirit identified them as ones whom Christ does not know. Like the virgins, we have been called to discern and be prepared for his sudden coming. We have been called to discern the signs of the times and be prepared. Will He find us sleeping? Watch, pray, heed the signs and be prepared. *Based on Dr. Stevenson's 1/9/21 message to the Church. To contact Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, email Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 Look for us on Facebook and Twitter also.