Are YOU ready?

It was a beautiful evening. The sun shone bright, but not too warm. A gentle breeze wafted by, and Peter’s mind immediately went to the fishing he was going to go do as soon as he got off work. He told his boss goodbye, signed his time sheet and jumped in the car.  He turned on the radio and began whistling, his mind drifting to his siblings at home, what he was going to do for the three day weekend, and what bait he would use this evening. Peter loved life, and gave no thought to leaving it.

 And then it happened.

The truck driver beside him in an 18-wheeler fell asleep. Peter couldn’t get out of the way fast enough. Over the bank they rolled into the valley beneath..

Peter wasn’t ready.

Amy had a doctor’s appointment in town. She didn’t get out very often, so she took this opportunity to shop a little while she was out. She found so many good deals! She thought of her husband at home, and hoped he liked the dress she found enough to make up for the price tag… And those shoes she had found on sale! Amy couldn’t wait to wear them to church Sunday, they would be perfect for the picnic afterwards! That reminded her; she needed to make a dessert tomorrow for the picnic. She arrived at the doctor’s office and the nurse took her back into the room.

And then it happened.

The doctor took her gently by the hand and let her know that she had cancer. It was spreading very fast, and he gave her three months to live.

Amy wasn’t ready.

Elizabeth and Marie had been best friends since childhood. They met up at the coffee shop once a week at 8:30. It had been this way for the past five years. Everything seemed normal. They both got in the car, both safely arrived at their destination, both greeted each other enthusiastically, and both ordered a caramel mocha. After talking a while, they both decided to go. Yes, everything was normal.

And then it happened.

Walking out the front door, Elizabeth paused, looking toward the east. She felt her stomach flutter and thought something felt different. She looked back at the sidewalk and stepped down to get in her car. Just then, a burst of trumpet sound, and a bright light shown from heaven, and in the blink of an eye Elizabeth rose to meet Jesus in the air. Marie sank to her knees, realizing what had happened. Jesus had returned and she wasn’t ready. All the excuses and all the “I’ll do it when I’m ready’s” didn’t matter now.

Elizabeth was ready. Marie was not.

Are YOU ready to die? If you’re not, you can be!

First, you need to acknowledge you are a sinner, and nothing you could ever do or be would be enough to save you. You are helpless and doomed apart from Jesus.

 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” Romans 5:12

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8

Once you realize that you have sinned against a righteous and holy God, you must believe that he left heaven to come to earth, came in the flesh, fully God and fully man, died on the cross in YOUR place, was buried and three days later rose again, defeated sin and death to give us life through Him. There is no one else capable of delivering us from death and judgment but Jesus Christ. You must REPENT of your sin, and ask for forgiveness.

 ^“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:19

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24
 

For more information, I would encourage you to visit http://seeklife.net/site/shortcuts/