Prepare for the Big One (THAT Day!)

With every passing day, the return of Christ grows nearer.  For thousands of years, the world waited for the Messiah who would save people from their sins.  When Jesus was born to the virgin Mary, it was the sign promised to reveal His arrival in Isaiah 7:14:  "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."  David wrote as directed by the Holy Spirit when he referred to the coming Messiah as "my Lord" (Psalm 110:1) because Jesus is a King of Kings, far greater than David:  Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.  His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting.

The Jews had been looking for the promised Messiah, but Jesus did not take the form they expected.  Instead of conquering the Romans and establishing the sovereignty of the nation Israel, He took the form of a servant.  He healed the sick, fed the hungry, cast out demons, preached repentance and righteousness, and even raised the dead.  The religious leaders were envious of Christ's authority and influence over the people.  They falsely accused Him and delivered Jesus to be crucified.  Although all the hosts of the armies of heaven stood ready to intervene at one word from Jesus, He chose to lay down His life in obedience to the Father on Calvary.  Three days later, as He predicted many times, Jesus rose from the dead.  Many believed, and some doubted.  Jesus then ascended to the Father in the presence of hundreds of witnesses.  Acts 1:10-11 reads, "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹ who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Jesus is coming and all men ought to ready themselves.  No man knows the day or the hour, and it will be at a time no one will expect.  For this reason we ought to be prepared.  I was born and raised in Southern California where for many years people have been expecting "the big one."  Because of the close proximity to the active San Andreas Fault, plus the history of destructive earthquakes in the last century from San Fransisco to Los Angeles, people are encouraged to be prepared.  With increasing frequency people are told to put aside emergency supplies of water, wind-up radios, flashlights, and non-perishable foods.  It is recommended to have an evacuation plan, a spanner accessible to shut off the flow of natural gas to the home, and bags packed with toiletries, a first-aid kit, parkas, and a utility knife.  It is not a matter of "if" another big earthquake will occur:  it is a matter of when.  Since no one can precisely predict the timing of a future disaster, it makes sense to prepare beforehand.  Some laugh off the warnings, while others choose to prepare.

The same Jesus who ascended to the heavens will return.  But it will be another side of Jesus that will be revealed.  The first time Jesus came preaching the Gospel of salvation:  this time He will return to take vengeance upon those who hate His rule by persistence in their sins.  Those who love Christ will rejoice in His return, while those who hate Him will face unspeakable destruction.  When a body becomes sick, the safest remedies which promote healing are best.  But when it is discovered that deadly flesh-eating bacteria is to blame for infection, drastic action must be taken.  On the day when Jesus returns, every gentle remedy will have been proudly refused.  Only the most brutal action will be appropriate to rid the world of the sin Jesus shed His own blood to cleanse.  You do not want to be the enemy of the King of Kings.  Today you must choose, for you are either for Him or against Him.  No decision is a decision against God.  No man knows the day of this reckoning, and no man knows when his life on earth will come to an abrupt halt.  If you die without Christ, if you die in your sins, you will loathe that day.  You will hate it because it will end with eternal death and torment in hell - a preventable tragedy that brings God no pleasure.

But for those who have repented and trusted in Christ, it will be a glorious day.  Isaiah 26:1-5 reveals, "In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. ² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. ³ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ⁴ Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength."  The world will ultimately be destroyed, but we Christians have no hope in this world.  Our hope is in Jesus.  Even as Jesus Christ was mocked, scorned, tried, hated, and murdered, so have Christians been from the beginning.  Christ's coming will not so much be a vindication of His people, but the open and undeniable glorification of Jesus as the Most High!  His loyal subjects will rejoice in that day.  It is a joy to be entered today which will continue for eternity because Christ makes His followers citizens and co-heirs with Him in heaven.

To become a citizen of another country, a process must be completed.  It is required to provide appropriate documentation, to pay a fee, to take a test, and go through a ceremony.  Some countries allow for dual citizenship, while others require a renunciation of any other citizenship.  Becoming a citizen of heaven is similar but with notable distinctions.  The required documentation to enter into heaven is a confession you are a sinner.  We must admit we have disobeyed God's written commands.  The fee for anyone to obtain citizenship in heaven has already been paid through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Once we make a decision to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, our faith is tested by the trials and difficulties of this life.  Should our faith by God's grace prove genuine, we will enter into heaven as citizens when our life on earth is through.  We must renounce all allegiance to all upon this earth, even ourselves.  It is Jesus who says in Matthew 16:24-25, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Are you prepared?  Are you ready?  Jesus says in Revelation 22:12, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."  The world has never anything like it, and never will again.  100 on the Richter scale is nothing compared to THAT day!