Are You Prepared To See Jesus?
by Kay Arthur

Oh Beloved, suppose, just suppose, that you knew the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was near. Suppose that you had inside information that your time "to occupy until He comes" was about over.

Suppose-just suppose-you knew for certain that by this time next year you would be standing, as an individual, before your God and your Lord, having to give an account of how you have lived as His child. Romans 14:10 says . . . "For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."

Would it make a difference in the way you live today? Next month? During the coming year?

We don't know about next year, but we do know that the Lord Jesus Christ will return. And from all that God's Word has to say about the end times . . . from all that we see going on in our world . . . and from the prompting of the Spirit of God, we need to order our days before our God accordingly.

God has told us to redeem the time because the days are evil and to live as if His coming is imminent. And He has told us that we will be held accountable to Him for the way we live as His children.

Let me share with you just some of the things for which God's Word tells us we will be held accountable.

We will be held accountable for . . .

what we have been given (Matthew 25:1-30)

what we know (Luke 12:4-48)

our stewardship of God's Word (I Corinthians 4:1-5)

what we teach others (James 3:1 and I Corinthians 3:10-15)

our giving (Philippians 4:14-17)

our words (Matthew 12:36-37)

our leadership (Hebrews 13:17)

As you look at the days ahead . . .

First, go through this list, look up the Scriptures, and ask God to search your heart in each area in the light of His Word.

Second, set some specific goals for your life. For instance, since you are accountable to God for knowing His will and for doing it, you need to plan how you are going to make the time to be alone with Him in His Word so that He can speak to you.

Third, as you set these goals, formulate definite plans to reach them. For instance, to follow through on the example I've given you (making time to be alone with God), schedule your day to allow yourself uninterrupted time to be alone with Him.

Fourth, once you have your goals and your plans, you need to begin! I want to challenge you to form a new habit...a godly habit. Determine that you are going to take time to be alone with God. As we go into this special season when we observe Christ's death, burial and resurrection, spend time in His Word. Ask God to give you His thoughts and to make you aware of anything that is not from Him. Test everything by seeing if it is in agreement with the whole counsel of the Word of God.

And fifth, begin examining every aspect of your life in the light of His coming. According to I John 3:2-3, our anticipation of the coming of the Lord acts as a purifying hope in our lives. The days ahead should become days of cleansing as you put away those things-sins, possessions, activities, and excesses-that keep you from pursuing His holiness.

Beloved-suppose our time is shorter than we think?

Someday-and it could be tomorrow or next year-the suppositions will be over. Jesus will appear. Then our opportunity to live the life of faith will be over.

Someday will come like a thief in the night. Don't be caught unaware.

Be ready . . . begin now. The discipline will pay eternal dividends.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
--1 Corinthians 15:58

Kay Arthur
Host, Precepts For Life
Co-CEO, Precept Ministries International

Wednesday, April 01, 2009