Now that another school year is upon us, Moms
everywhere have been getting their children ready. Stores have
"back to school sales" on clothing, shoes, back packs,
lunch kits, pencils, paper ... and the list goes on. It is a very
busy time as preparations are made for the beginning of school.
It seems preparations must be made for many things in life. One
prepares for a job, a baby's arrival, the garden for planting,
our retirement years, our houses for the winter weather, etc.
Just recently, with hurricane Charley, the folks
in Florida were told to "be prepared" for the storm.
Get ready! While I was talking to a relative there, as Charley
was approaching, she made the comment, "We just have to be
prepared."
Those words caused me to think about being prepared
for the judgment day. We know, by reading God's Word, that a judgment
awaits each of us. Hebrews 9:27. In 1 Thessalonians
4:16-17, we read, "For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever be with the Lord." From this passage we know
Christ is coming again and we will all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10.
People in the path of a hurricane are told days
ahead what to do to ensure their safety. They are given instructions
about securing their houses, what provisions to have on hand,
and all the things to do to escape the storm. As the weather experts
talk, their words remind us of God's words for our escape from
the wrath of eternal punishment. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 &
9a. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord" We must ask ourselves, "Are we getting
ready for the judgment day?" School officials set a date
for classes to begin; weather forecasters tell when a storm will
make landfall; but we have no date nor time for the Lord's second
coming. Peter tells us, in 2 Peter 3:10, it will
be as a thief in the night. We need to be ready; make preparations
now! Getting ready requires us to do certain things. We must obey
the gospel. We need to hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized.
When we've made those preparations, we are added to Christ's body,
the church - the church that wears His name. Jesus said, in John
14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments."
He loved us enough to die for us, shouldn't we love Him enough
to get ready to spend eternity in Heaven with Him?
As our spiritual preparations are made, we cannot
EVER become negligent in our day-to-day lives. Getting ready for
heaven means being a faithful follower of Christ. Moms, you have
a responsibility to get your children ready for the start of another
school year. Then, you have to see that they get there. They'll
not get there by themselves. Likewise, we have a responsibility
to get our children ready for heaven, which is an even bigger
responsibility! We must be ready ourselves.
Are You Getting Ready? -Route 2 Box 177, Belington,
WV 26250. mrmrsl@meer.net