It
is interesting that “getting ready” is an action or an activity that all of us
must do. When we aren’t ready, we are
sometimes taken by surprise or “thrown for a loop.” Change is hard to accept—especially when we
are not ready for it. However, when we
are ready, change is easier for us to handle.
Think with me for a few minutes about getting ready.
1)
A Spirit of Readiness. Summer is just about over as we swing into
the fall season with the month of September.
School starts, regular programs and ministries gear up, and we are once
again made aware of how important it is for us to “get ready.” The cold weather will surely come upon us
very rapidly. Are you ready for that? Sometimes we may not be as ready for change
as we want to be. As a result it becomes
quite easy to complain, fret, grumble or gripe.
Since we know that change is inevitable, why not accept it with a ready
spirit?
2)
A place to Get Ready. It is good for us to “be ready” mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. Some people
find it helpful to get away to a quiet place where they can meditate, praise
God, and think about His presence. Obviously,
this can be done anywhere. However, it
is helpful to be able to go to a specific location that has been designated as
a place of prayer, meditation and quiet reflection. It seems to me that a church or chapel would
be a good place to do that.
3)
God’s Readiness. God is getting ready for those who love him
and put their trust in him. According to
the Bible, we can know for certain and be assured that we will go to heaven to
be with Him some day. Listen to these
verses which explain how. “Do not let your
hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust
also in me. In my Father’s house are
many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am. You know the way to the place where
I am going. Thomas said to him, ‘Lord,
we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me’” (John 14:1-6).
4)
Ready for the Lord’s
Return. God is getting ready for us and the Scripture
reminds us that we need to get ready for the return of the Lord. It says, “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at
an hour when you do not expect him” (Luke 12:40).
You can get ready to meet the Lord by receiving Him as your Savior and Lord. “Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. (Revelation 3:20, TLB).
