A New Beginning

Greg Laurie: Jesus is coming. Are you ready? Since we don't know when it'll happen, many aren't ready. Pastor Greg Laurie says that's the point. We need to be ready always. When we see the things happening in our world as we do now, literally Bible prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes, we should be looking up. We can have the Bible in one hand and a news feed on our phone in the other. Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen, look up, for your redemption is drawing near.

Guest (Male): If we knew exactly when Jesus was returning, most of us would make sure we're ready. We'd drop everything and get ready. It is important to know just how soon Jesus could return. In this case, what we don't know can impact us for eternity. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us trustworthy insight straight from God's word on what we can expect during the rapture and just how close we may be to that event. There is literally nothing standing in his way.

Greg Laurie: Why don't you grab your Bibles and turn with me over to the Gospel of Luke, the 12th chapter. The title of my message is "Things to Do Before the End of the World." Let's just imagine for a moment that we knew when Jesus was coming. We know that can't be true because nobody knows. Only the Father knows. But let's just say for the sake of an illustration we knew. Let's say we knew that Jesus was coming back tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM. How do you think we'd be doing spiritually around 2:45?

I think we'd be doing pretty well. I think we'd have our Sunday morning smiles and our "come quickly, Jesus" attitude because Jesus would be coming. But we should literally live every day as though it were that day. Someone once asked the great evangelist, D.L. Moody, "If you knew the Lord would return tonight, how would you spend the rest of the day?" He replied without hesitation, "I wouldn't do anything different than I do every day."

Jesus gives us the answer in Luke 12. I want to read verses 36 to 40, and I'm reading from the New Living Translation. This is our Lord telling us how we are to live in light of His imminent return. "Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them and put on an apron and serve them as they sit and eat. He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.

Whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. Understand this," says Jesus, "if a homeowner knew when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You must also be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when he is least expected." The Son of Man is a reference of Christ to himself. Now we are talking about first-century Jewish weddings. They were way different than our weddings today.

We spend so much on weddings. I was Googling prices of weddings. It is crazy how much you can spend on a wedding—$15,000, $30,000, $100,000. I was reading about celebrities that spend millions of dollars on their weddings and sadly most of them had already ended up in divorce court. Cathe and I spent $15 on our wedding. It was like a literal hippie wedding. Everybody just came, showed up, and we did it. But it worked. 45 years later, we are thankful to God.

Weddings back in the days of the Jewish people in the first century were very different. It was sort of an event. It was an extended time of celebration and fun. Everybody would be there, everybody would be ready, they would have a great feast. But here was the twist: you didn't know when the groom was coming. He might come in the morning, he might come in the afternoon, he might come in the evening. An announcement would be given: "The bridegroom is coming!" If you weren't ready, you would miss it. Snooze and you lose.

This is the picture Jesus is drawing upon. He is like that groom, and he is going to come and we don't know when it is going to be. It might be in the morning when that morning finally comes. It might be in the afternoon. It might be in the evening. It might be in our lifetime. It might not be. But we want to be ready. Here is point number one. What should we be doing before the end of the world? Number one, we should be shining light in a dark place.

Verse 35 says, "Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning." It is like saying keep batteries in your flashlight or keep your cell phone charged. It simply means be ready to go. Have your lamps burning, be ready for the return of Christ. Doesn't the Bible tell us to let our light so shine before men that people can see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven? You want to be living in a way that brings honor and glory to God.

Sometimes I feel as Christians we are more known for what we are against than what we are for. Look for opportunities to show the love of Jesus to people. Simple things: open a door for somebody, say something nice to somebody, throw out a compliment, do something kind. Do it in the name of Jesus. Say, "God bless you." They will see that you are a follower of Christ, and sometimes those can prompt and open doors for conversation.

We are to be bright lights in a dark place. Number two, we are to be watching for him. Verse 37 says, "Blessed are those servants whom the master when he comes will find watching." When we see the things happening in our world as we do now, literally Bible prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes, we should be looking up. We can have the Bible in one hand and a newspaper or a news feed on our phone in the other. Jesus said when you see these things begin to happen, look up for your redemption is drawing near.

Number three, you need to be ready to go. When I go on a trip, I pack. I am the worst packer. I just pack too much stuff. It is ridiculous when I show up with more luggage than my wife, and I am not saying that in a critical way of girls, but generally girls maybe sometimes take more stuff than guys. Not in our marriage. I take more stuff because I may need this and I may need that and I need a charger well I will have an extra charger and I will have this other thing.

Cathe will say, "Why do you take all that stuff?" Then when we get there, she forgot her charger. I have another one. Aren't you glad I'm the little pack rat now? I get everything packed before I go. Then you load it up and you go down to the airport and you get on your flight or however you're going to be traveling. The idea is be ready to go at a moment's notice. Have your bags packed and have your comfortable shoes on.

When I travel, I wear comfortable shoes because sometimes they change terminals and now you have to rush. If you have a roller bag, you are running along. I need comfortable shoes. The idea is be ready to go at a moment's notice because the Lord could come back at any time. Are you ready? Here is something to consider. Ask yourself a question about things that you do. This place I'm about to go, this thing I'm ready to do, would I be ashamed of this or be embarrassed doing this if Christ were to come back while I was doing it?

If the answer is yes, I think you should reconsider that thing. I already quoted from 2 Peter 3:9 in another message on why the Lord has not come back yet because it says God is not slow in keeping his promises as some men count slowness. He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The reason the Lord is waiting is he is waiting for that one person to believe, that last person before we are caught up to meet him.

Those verses in 2 Peter go on and say the day will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear. The elements will be destroyed by fire. Listen to this: "What kind of people then should you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. Look forward to this and make every effort to be found spotless and blameless and at peace with him." If you really believe these things, it should affect you in the way that you live.

Number four, we should not only be ready, but we should be anxiously awaiting his return. Looking forward to it. Look at verse 36: "Be like men who wait for their master when he will return from the wedding and comes and knocks, they'll open to him immediately." Years ago I used to have a dog. He came pre-named Palm. Who names a dog Palm? We had a dog named Palm. He was a German Shepherd, but I think he thought he was a deer. He sort of moved around like a deer. He was a very interesting dog. Good dog.

He would lean against our door at night of our bedroom. Sometimes he would scratch as dogs do and it would sound like someone was at the door. I would open it up and the dog falls in. He would just wait against the door, waiting for us to get up. When I opened that door in the morning, he was so excited, running around in circles. Happy days are here again because he wanted to go on a walk and all the things dogs like to do. That is a picture of how we ought to be.

We should just be up against the door like, "Lord, come." Let's just say someone you really loved was coming to visit you and you hadn't seen them for a year. They text you: "The plane just landed. We are in the Uber. We are on our way over. We are in the neighborhood. We are one block away. We are almost at your house." You have your hand on the door and you can't even wait for them to come up the steps. That is how we need to be waiting for Jesus Christ.

Looking forward to it, anticipating it and hoping for it. We should not only be anxiously awaiting, we should also be working. Look at verse 43: "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes." So doing. The Bible says faith without works is dead. If watching for the Lord's return will help us prepare our own lives, working will assure we bring others with us. Notice the word blessed is used.

"Blessed is the servant whom the master will find so doing." As you know, the word blessed can also be translated happy. Happy is the servant. Happy is the man. Happy is the woman who is anxiously awaiting their Lord's return and is serving him.

Guest (Male): Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. Emails, phone calls, and social media messages from listeners are so encouraging to us and they let us know the effectiveness of these studies.

"Pastor Greg, I've been a born-again Christian for over 30 years. Every time I listen to you, I learn new verses and you teach me new things about the Lord and my own faith. I'm encouraged now to go spread the gospel with others. God bless you and keep up the good work."

When we hear from you, it's not only a blessing, it also confirms that the program is touching lives. Would you consider sharing your story? If so, call Pastor Greg at 866-871-1144. That's 866-871-1144. Today, Pastor Greg is helping us be ready for the Lord's return. We're seeing the Bible gives practical counsel on being ready as we look at the kind of people who are ready and the kind of people who aren't.

Greg Laurie: In contrast to the believer who is watching and working, now we have the unprepared servant. Go back to Luke 12, verse 45: "But if that servant says in his heart, 'Oh, my master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him." This is a picture of a person who would appear to be a believer, but in reality they are not.

Why do I say that? It is that servant. They look like one of us. Jesus told the story of the ten bridesmaids. Remember? Five were wise, five were foolish. In the King James, they are called the ten virgins. The ones that were wise had oil in their lamps—back to the lamp. The ones that were not ready did not have oil in their lamps. The idea is in the last days, according to scripture, there is going to be people that are Christians right next to people that aren't Christians.

People that aren't Christians will initially appear as though they are Christians. We have to be very careful. Just hearing these things is not enough. We need to act on these things as well. Going to church, hearing the word of God, singing these wonderful songs of worship—it's a great thing to do if you really have a relationship with God. But if you do these things and have no intention of following the Lord, or you're kind of pretending to be a Christian, you're actually in danger of hardening your heart.

You want to know the easiest place to get a hard heart? A strip club, a bar—yeah, you could get a hard heart there. But the easiest place to get a hard heart is right where you are right now. I'm not getting this at all. I thought church was the best place to be. It's the best place to be if you want to walk with God. But the same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay.

The same message that will set one person free can be ignored by another, and they will actually find their heart getting harder. Don't let that happen to you. The Pharaoh of Egypt saw miracle after miracle and the Bible says he hardened his heart. He hardened his heart. You can hear these things and think, "That's stupid, I don't really believe it." But you're here anyway. Be careful because you don't want to be like this person that is not prepared.

Notice what it says about this wicked servant. Verse 45: "That servant says my master won't be back for a while, begins to beat the other servants, partying and getting drunk." People get drunk for a lot of reasons. Sometimes to escape their problems, other things that pull them in. I just read an interesting article about how drinking heavily can actually change your DNA.

This article says alcohol can actually prompt dangerous and long-lasting genetic changes, according to cutting-edge research from Rutgers University. These changes actually worsen a drinker's relationship with booze by causing them to crave it even more. Drinking disrupts the natural effectiveness of two specific genes, one that governs the body's biological clock and the other that regulates stress. This contributes to the vicious cycle of alcoholism.

This article concluded by pointing out drinking contributes to three million deaths a year. It is interesting that Jesus actually talks about someone getting drunk. I've come to an amazing discovery: if I don't drink, I won't get drunk. Go figure. I've never met a drunk person that didn't drink. So if I don't drink, I won't get drunk. I remember once I was pulled over for a DUI. Let me explain. It was actually New Year's Eve.

I was driving back from a service we had done at church. It was nighttime and I got pulled over by a cop. I thought, "Why is he pulling me over?" He has a loudspeaker: "Keep your hands on the steering wheel." I got my hands on the wheel. He comes around with a flashlight. They shine the flashlight right in your eyes. That just really irritates you and makes you very nervous. He says, "Get out of the car."

I get out of the car and he says, "What have you been drinking?" I said, "Bottled water, officer." He goes, "Aha." He pulls out a pencil. "Now I want you to watch, follow this with your eyes." He is going back and forth with a pencil. He says, "Now I want you to walk a straight line." I'm thinking, "I can't believe this is happening to me. Someone's going to drive by and say, 'Isn't that Pastor Greg there?'"

And I had not been drinking anything, and I don't drink. But I was so nervous, it was hard. The line was hard. I did it, he finally let me go. I don't know why he pulled me over in the first place. It was crazy. But the sad thing is there are people driving under the influence. Far too often we hear the story of the family killed by the drunk driver.

They all die and the drunk survives it. They're so liquored up they're just like whatever. Horrible. I've seen alcohol destroy so many lives and it is kind of personal for me. I'll tell you why—because I was raised in an alcoholic home. I saw what it did to my mom and I saw what it did to her marriages and I saw the destruction. You don't need to be filled with the spirit, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

That is what the Bible says. It is far better. The Bible says don't be drunk with wine because that will ruin your life. But instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. In conclusion, Jesus is coming. So we need to be ready. How? Number one, be a shining light in a dark place. Number two, be watching for him. Number three, be ready to go. Number four, not only be ready, be anxiously awaiting his return.

Fifth and lastly, don't just be anxiously waiting, but also be working. Coming back to that verse I quoted in 2 Peter 3: "Make every effort to be found spotless and blameless and at peace with him." Let me ask you, are you ready for the Lord's return? You might say, "Does that mean I have to live a perfect life?" No, because no one does. We all sin. But we need to be right with God.

The only way to have the peace of God in our life is to first have peace with God. Believe it or not, before you are a Christian, you are actually at war with God. You are fighting with God. You are separated from God by your sin. But God loved you so much despite your rebellion, he sent his own son Jesus to die on a cross in your place and my place and he suffered there for my sins.

He rose again from the dead three days later and he is alive and he is here with us and he stands at the door of your life and he knocks and says if you will hear his voice and open the door, he will come in. Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus is coming back again. I ask you in closing, are you ready for the Lord's return? If you aren't, would you like to be?

When that morning finally comes, everyone will be there if they are Christians. How do I get right with God? You admit you are a sinner and you realize that your only hope is Jesus. You need a savior, you call out. It would just be like if you were out in the water and you got caught in a rip tide and you can't get back to the shore. What do you do? You call out for help. Well, that's embarrassing. Well, it's better than drowning, isn't it?

In the same way, we have to see our real condition and call out to God. The Bible says whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. In a moment we are going to pray and I'm going to give you an opportunity to reach out to God. Maybe you are struggling with alcohol. Maybe you're struggling with drugs. Maybe it's none of those things at all, but you've chased after everything this world says will make you happy and you have a lot of those things.

Maybe you've even surpassed your expectations, but you've seen how empty it is. That is because you were made to know God. There is like a big hole in your heart that only Christ can fill. Drugs can't fill it, booze can't fill it, parties can't fill it, sex can't fill it, material things can't fill it. Even religion can't fill it. You don't need religion. You need a relationship with God. It can happen for you right here, right now, and once you do that, you can be confident you are ready for the Lord's return.

In a moment we are going to pray. Respond to this invitation. Also, if you are someone that's fallen away from the Lord and maybe you need to come back because you've been sort of playing a little bit of a religious game, you're not fooling God. You can fool all of the people some of the time. You can fool some of the people all of the time. But you can't fool God any of the time.

Don't play that game anymore. Why don't we all bow our heads and pray. Everybody praying. Father, I pray that your Holy Spirit will speak now to every person here, every person watching, and every person listening wherever they are. If they don't know Jesus, we pray that tonight will be the night they come to you and believe in you and that they can be forgiven of their sins and be ready for the afterlife, ready to go to heaven and ready for the return of Jesus. Help each one to see their need. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Guest (Male): An important prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie. If you'd like to make a change today in your relationship with God, Pastor Greg will help you take that step in just a moment before today's edition of A New Beginning concludes. Are you receiving Pastor Greg's daily devotions each day via email? If not, let's take care of that right now.

You can sign up today free of charge at harvest.org and you'll receive a daily inspirational thought from God's word each day in your inbox. Again, go to harvest.org. A few moments ago, Pastor Greg, you spoke of the need to get our hearts right with God. Could you help someone who wants to do that very thing right now?

Greg Laurie: Yes, I'd be delighted to. Listen, as you've listened to this program today, maybe something's been happening inside of your heart where you're sensing I need to do this personally, but how do I do it and what do I do? Let me help you. It's very simple. In fact, it's so simple you may be shocked. God—this relationship with him—is just a prayer away. The Bible says if you will call upon the name of the Lord, you'll be saved.

I'd like to lead you in a prayer where you do just that. You call on the name of the Lord. Sometimes when I'm talking with someone one-on-one and they want to accept Jesus Christ, I'll have them pray a prayer after me. Maybe you'd like to do that right now. Thousands have done this over the years listening to our broadcast and the Lord has changed their lives. It can happen for you right now.

This can be the moment where you change your eternal address literally from hell to heaven. I'll pray a simple prayer and I would just ask you to pray this prayer out loud if you like after me. Just pray these words: Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. But I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead. Jesus, I choose to follow you from this moment forward. In your name I pray. Amen.

I know it's such a simple short prayer. But you just called on the name of the Lord. He heard that prayer. And if you meant that prayer in your heart, he answered that prayer. Now let me help you to get started on the right foot in your new life in Jesus Christ. The greatest adventure awaits you: the life of walking with God. I want to send you what we call a New Believer's Growth Pack.

First of all, it's a copy of the new New Believer's Bible. And by that I mean we have redone this from ground level up. I've rewritten the notes and it's a New Living Translation with a lot of notes on how to grow spiritually woven through this unique edition of scripture. I'll send you the New Believer's Pack that includes the New Believer's Bible and a whole lot more. Let me be the first to say to you congratulations and welcome to the family of God.

Guest (Male): To get that free New Believer's Bible, just ask for it if you've prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ today. We'll be glad to send it your way free of any charge. Call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime, night or day, 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org and click "Know God."

Let us take a moment to thank you for praying for this ministry and for supporting it through your generous donation. It's an investment in kingdom business. Isn't that right, Pastor Greg?

Greg Laurie: It's really true, Dave. I believe it's so important because the gospel saves lives. It saves eternal lives because when a person believes in Jesus according to scripture, they pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. Then, of course, that changes the course of their future. That impacts their children and their children's children.

The gospel changes everything. Thousands and thousands of people respond every single year. Thanks to the Lord, also thanks to you for your investment in this ministry enabling us to reach people wherever they are. If this is something you care about, I encourage you to make a financial investment in A New Beginning and Harvest Ministries.

Guest (Male): That's right, and we really do appreciate your support. Thanks for partnering with us today. It can make a real difference not just for today or this week, but for eternity. So get in touch with your support today by calling 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24/7 phone number, 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org.

Next time, more insights from Pastor Greg's series called Jesus Revolution. we'll consider more steps to revival, including the importance of reading, understanding, and following what God's word says. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie.