Are you READY?

The Association of the Covenant People, Burnaby, B.C.
Canada.
From the June "Thy Kingdom Come"

ARE YOU READY
TO MEET YOUR GOD?

BY HOLLY MILLS

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not
the Son of man cometh." (Matt. 24:44).

Are we ready for our Lord's return? This may seem like a silly
question as of course, we all are, aren't we? I ask this question
only because we live in a world that lives very far away from the
Lord and it is constantly influencing us. God, though, does not
want us to live in this worldly system but to live holy and to be
holy. We cannot follow the worldly system and follow God at the
same time. It seems to me that the only way we can do this is to
have a change of heart. If we do not change our hearts we
flounder trying to live in two worlds. We cannot serve two
masters and have peace in our heart. "No man can serve two
masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or
else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon."(Matt. 6:23-25). This is a decision we all
have to make. The time is short and our nations are lost in their
sin. Choose wisely.

World events are bringing us closer and closer to destruction and
if it were not for the Lord's return to save His people we would
be destroyed. The world, including the earth itself, is in great
distress. The Word of God is being fulfilled before our very eyes
and only those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour
and believe Him with all their hearts will be saved.
It is tough today when we see how the wicked seem to prosper but
their time is short and their reward is now whereas those who
believe with all their hearts and trust in the Lord have
their reward for eternity. King David said "Thus my heart was
grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and
ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am
continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou
shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to
glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon
earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth:
but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast
destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good
for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God,
that I may declare all thy works." (Psa. 73:21-28). David in
verse 17 had gone into the sanctuary of God and then understood
the destiny of the wicked. He realized his part was not to ponder
on the wicked but to put his heart and soul and mind on God and
all that He was doing. This is where his strength came from. He
had a change of heart.

Are we ready? Have we had a change of heart? Do we really love
the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind? "Jesus said unto
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matt. 22:36-38). When
we truly love the Lord we have faith and hope, and because we
then trust Him we willingly follow His commandments. Do we really
have a relationship with Christ where we have changed our heart
or do we just think we have a relationship but behave the same
way we have always done?

Have we humbled ourselves before God or do we still want to be in
control? These are things I believe we must think about now as we
approach the time of the Lord's return.

The Lord is our righteousness. He died for us that we might be
saved if we would only accept His sacrifice. In the Old Testament
sacrifices of righteousness had to be made, "They shall call the
people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of
righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas,
and of treasures hid in the sand." (Deut. 33:18-20). He became
our sacrifice of righteousness. He has given us life through His
resurrection. This is a gift that we would be wise to accept.
Our Israel nations are dead. Our people are physically alive and
thinking and doing but our hearts are dead (hardened). We think
we can still solve our problems, we don't know that we are sick
and weak and desperately in need of a Saviour. "And you hath he
quickened [made alive] who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: ... But
God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved
us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together
with Christ," (Eph. 2:1-2,45). Will we be ready when Christ
returns to judge the earth? Which side will we be on, those who
love Christ and look forward to His return or those who want
nothing to do with Him. Prepare to meet thy God. "...yet have ye
not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus will I do
unto thee, 0 Israel: and because I will do this unto thee,
prepare to meet thy God, 0 Israel ... The Lord, The God of hosts,
is his name."(Amos 4:11-13).

Let us be ready! "And I heard as it were the voice of a great
multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of
mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for
the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself
ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine
linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints." (Rev. 19:6-8)
..........