Get Ready Already

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I am going to Florida soon and I am quite excited about it. I have been getting myself ready for it the last few weeks. I have a master list of things to get done, I am trying to stay healthy and I have been pulling out my warm-weather clothes.
 
We women are great at getting ready for things. From parties to trips, we are the best planners.  Some events are easy and take a short time to prepare. Others, like weddings and babies take several months or even years of preparation. We carefully plan so when the big moment arrives we are set.
 
I find it interesting that while we are so good at preparing for earthly events we often totally neglect the eternal ones. When it comes to where we will spend our afterlife we put it off.  Shoving it to the back of the pantry like that can of tomato paste we know we will need eventually. We will “get right with God” when the time comes.  Maybe when we get a terminal diagnosis or when we are really old. It is hard to worry about the end of life when we are so busy just living life. Does it really matter that much?
 
Let me tell you, it matters. And it matters right now. You are not guaranteed another second let alone another day, year or decade. God’s Word reminds us of this frequently with verses such as this: “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14). Our lives go by in a flash, especially when compared to eternity. Let’s be serious. We may think we have years ahead but we may only have seconds. Get ready.
 
We are told in Hebrews 9:27 that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”. In the blink of an eye you could be standing before your Maker. By then your fate is sealed. There is no trial, no arguments to be had, no “Wait God, I can explain…”.  No comparing yourself to the person in the pew next to you, they won’t be there.  Only you and God and a just and final judgement. Either the blood of Jesus Christ will mark you as his or it won’t.  Either debt paid in full or debt fully due.  
 
If you show up on your wedding day without a dress you can still get married. If the baby comes before you have purchased a crib, you still get the baby. But if you die before accepting Jesus as Lord, you are forever damned. The choice has to be made now. Do not wait. Purgatory is a lie. Do not find false security in a make-believe destination. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Read it all for yourself in God’s Word - a book he had written so that you would read it and know. No paid clergy needed to filter the truth for you.
 
God is real.  “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Ps 14:1).  Do not be a fool.  Each of us deep within senses the truth of this.  We long to worship something and we long for a purpose for our existence.  We long to be loved and to be part of a family.  This is because the truth is written on our hearts (Romans 2:15). Do not ignore the hanging question any longer - will you repent and turn from your sin and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God? Get ready.
 
Ladies, don’t put this off any longer. You must choose your side. Two options: with God or against God.  “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Mt 12:30).  There is no in between, no limbo.  You are either standing in grace at this moment, having accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf, or you are standing under God’s wrath and condemnation, having rejected him and preferring to pay for your own sins for eternity (see John 3:18).  It is up to you, but don’t push this one to the back of the panty.  It is far too important and you may be standing before your Judge far sooner than you think.
 
Seek out the truth today in God’s Word and get ready already.