DO YOU KNOW THE WORD?

Today I had lunch with a group of folks who discussed the perilous times and the possibility that Jesus Christ could return at any moment.
"What worries me," someone said, "is whether our children know enough about Jesus' return for the Redeemed to even know it will happen in a twinkling of an eye--like a thief in the night.

There can be no doubt about it. Christ's coming will be unexpected by most people. The Bible says, "For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3.)

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matthew 24:42-44).

Jesus told a parable about 10 virgins, five of them wise and five foolish. Five were ready when the bridegroom came, but five others were locked out even though they created quite a fuss.

He told about two men working in the field. One was taken and another left. Two were in bed. One was taken and another left."

Jesus kept saying, "Watch. You don't know what hour your Lord will come." (Matthew 24.)

The only thing we can take to heaven with us is other people, and I hope every member of our family, our extended families, our friends, neighbors, and others with whom we've come in contact are ready for His coming, whether it is the catching away of the church, or walking through the shadow of death.

We need fear no evil, if God is with us.

Do you know how to be ready? Romans 10:9 tells us, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation."

But there is more: obedience to God and His Word. Jesus told the rich young ruler to "Come. Follow me."

We aren't saved by our works, however. "It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but by His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:4-6.)

Yet, because when we are truly born again and are made new creatures in Christ, we desire to walk in holiness. As we grow in Him and the fruits of His Spirit are manifest in our lives such as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, our lives become different. Then when we receive the Gifts of the Spirit, they work through us in power to win and bless others.

There is so much to gain in knowing Jesus and His Word!