Be Ready
Introduction
I remember very well when I’m a Boy Scout. It was a very exciting and unforgettable experience for a boy like me to feel like I’m a grown up and have some challenging responsibilities. The motto “Be Prepared” still rings on my ears and has been a routine and I would say a “must do” as I grow up and be a man. As a Christian there are several things that we must be prepared also to do as we live.
1. Be ready to Answer (1 Pet. 3:15)
a. Answer is the Greek word “apologia” from which we get the word “apologetics”
b. Apologetics is the careful logical defence of the Christian faith against the attacks of its enemies.
c. Peter is telling the believers to be always prepared to give a logical defence for the Christian faith when they are confronted by those who deny it and would destroy it if they can.
d. Note that our defence is to be given not with boasting or pride but “with meekness and fear.
e. The Christian should not be ignorant with his answer, but neither should he be arrogant.
Some of us become overzealous, and in explaining our faith and hope to people who ask questions or in defending the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, we fail to realize that we are hurting the other party. We may be able to explain very well even win an argument, but if people’s feelings are offended, we will never persuade them and we will never convince them to join us. The Word of God is very clear, we must give an answer in meekness and fear.
2. Be ready to Preach – Rom. 1:15
a. Paul here expresses his readiness and willingness to preach the Gospel.
b. Not all of us is called to be a preacher.
c. We can still tell the good news of salvation to our fellow men or by witnessing to them.
d. The way we live our lives as a Christian is the way we preach to non-believers
e. You don’t have to be a preacher to tell to the world how Christ have changed you.
f. The readiness to preach here is tantamount to living a righteous life all the time, an outward testimony that now you are a new person because of what Christ has done on the cross.
As the Greyhound bus approached Daytona Beach, Florida, a passenger pulled a gun and ordered the driver to “take me to Tampa or I’ll shoot you”. A fellow passenger, Ena Cuff, a member of a Baptist Church, knew just what to do. She began preaching. Within minutes the man dropped his gun and was subdued and led off to jail. The bus went on its way. “The teachings of the Word of Jesus Christ were enough to make his hand go limp,” explained Ms. Cuff. Her readiness to preach, saved the whole bus from trouble.
3. Be ready to Distribute – 1 Tim. 6:18
a. We must be ready to impart or to share our goods to others who are in need.
b. God loves a cheerful giver, so we must have the right attitude in giving.
c. When you give, do not expect something in return.
d. It is always better to give than to receive.
e. We should never give in order to receive the praise of others, but because we love God and desire to see His name honoured and glorified.
Charles Spurgeon and his wife, according to a story in the Chaplain magazine, would sell, but refused to give away, the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, “You may have them if you pay for them.” As a result some people labelled the Spurgeons greedy and grasping.
They accepted the criticisms without defending themselves, and only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because the Spurgeons where unwilling to let their left hand know what the right hand was doing (Matt. 6:3), they endured the attacks in silence.
We’d all like a reputation for generosity, and we’d all like to buy it cheap.
4. Be ready for every good work – Titus. 3:1
a. Good works demonstrate the reality of our faith. James 2:17-18
b. Good works cannot save us but it is the fruit of our salvation. Eph. 2:8-9
c. Good works glorify God. Mt. 5:16, 1 Pet. 2:12
d. We have a duty to live a moral and spiritual life as an example for others to see.
From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, Christian works should be Pray, Praise, & Preach. Pray unceasingly 1 Thess. 5:17; Eph. 6:18, Praise continually Eph. 5:19-20; Heb. 13:15, Preach unwearyingly 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Cor. 15:58. I absolutely agree with this.
5. Be ready to die – Acts 21:13
a. We are “appointed to die”. Heb. 9:27
b. Death is the separation of body, soul, and spirit.
c. The death of the righteous is precious to God the Father. Ps. 116:15.
d. Physical death can be avoided by the “rapture”.
e. Lots of Christians have died for their faith in Christ.
f. The Lord said “whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35. We should be ready to die for the Lord.
When Jesus said, “If you are going to follow me, you have to take up a cross,” it was the same as saying, “Come and bring your electric chair with you. Take up the gas chamber and follow me.” He did not have a beautiful gold cross in mind – the cross on a church steeple or on the front of your Bible. Jesus had in mind a place of execution.
6. Be ready to meet the Lord – Mt. 24:44
a. We are told He will come as a thief in the night. 1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10; Re 16:15
b. He will come unexpectedly. Mt 24:44; Lu 12:40.
c. He will come suddenly. Mr 13:36
d. He said He will come as the lightning. Mt 24:27
e. He will meet us in the air. This event is called the rapture. 1 Thess. 4:16-17.
A Christian doctor in London wanted to arouse his page boy as to the salvation of his soul. One night the doctor explained to him that “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout (1Thess. 4:16). He ended the recital by saying, “When the Lord comes, you may have my home, John”. The boy was surprised. “And my car”. John was more surprised. “And my furniture, and my money.” The boy could only gasp, “Thanks”. Alone in the bed he began to think. “If the doctor goes to heaven, what will I do with this car and all the rest? Where will I be? He woke up the doctor and explained his problem and before morning he was also ready.
Conclusion:
As Christians, we should always be prepared or be ready to answer about our Christian faith but we must do it in meekness and in fear not angry and arrogant. We must be prepared to “preach” or show the world how Christ have changed you. We must be ready also to impart good to others, do every good work, ready to die for Christ, and meet Him. Are you ready to meet the Lord? If not, repent from your sins and receive Christ as your personal Saviour. Don’t delay, tomorrow may be too late.
