Don't Get Caught With Your Pants Down...

This past Sunday I preached about being ready for Jesus' return.  The title of the message was "Ready or Not..."  Whether we are ready or not, Jesus is coming back.

On that day, it will be much better for us to be ready than not.

I'll let Jesus explain.

Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.45 But if that servant says to himself, My master is delayed in coming, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Jesus gives four specific examples of people.

1. The person who does what he/she is supposed to be doing—Serving, following, and obeying Jesus with everything inside of them!


2. The person who "assumes" today is not the day Jesus is coming back.  Do you know what "assuming" does?   Just look at the syllable breakdown: "Ass-u-me"!  This person takes advantage of Christian leadership and exploits it for their own purposes.  This person is self-centered and deserves what Jesus' describes.


3. The person who knows about Jesus but doesn't fully obey Him.


4. The person who has never heard about Jesus and acted according to the sinful nature.

Each one of these people gets what they deserve.  However, it is interesting, the person who "knows" Jesus but doesn't do what He commands gets a harsh beating (person number three).  This doesn't mean they don't get into heaven, it means they will suffer great loss.

Here is what the Apostle Paul says about this type of person:

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire./

Ouch!

I fear the population of Christians in America is best represented in person number three.

You can read God's Word for yourself...

You can see the judgements of God on each profile.

Who are you today?

Be person number one.

It will be much better for us to be ready on the day Jesus returns.  Because ready or not, He's coming back!

Don't get caught with your pants down...