Are You Ready?
Bible study on preparedness.

When talking about our military, we speak of the state of readiness. Christians also must remain in a state of readiness. We must be ready for Christ's return and to stand before Him in judgment.

A few days before being crucified, Jesus taught His disciples about being ready. Jesus' teachings in Matthew 24:36-25:46 were specifically spoken concerning the end (24:6, 13, 14) from which we learn:

• No one knows the day or hour (Matt. 24:36-44).

Jesus illustrates this fact with Noah. Up to the day of the flood, people continued eating, drinking, and marrying. They did not know the day or hour of the flood just as we do not know the day or hour that Christ will be revealed. Nor do we know that day or hour that we will pass from this life. So Jesus said: "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matt. 24:44).

• There are faithful servants and evil servants (Matt. 24:45-51).

God is man's Creator. Therefore each man is God's servant. But there are two types of servants - faithful and evil. The Lord looks down upon His servants and finds the faithful servant doing His will while the evil servant is disobedient to His will. The faithful servants are ready for their Master's return while the evil servant is not ready. The faithful servant will be rewarded at his Master's coming but the evil servant will be punished.

• A faithful servant is wise and therefore ready (Matt. 25:1-13).

Jesus told His disciples a parable about the kingdom of heaven. He said that the kingdom of heaven was likened to ten virgins. Five of the virgins were foolish and five of the virgins were wise. The five wise virgins were ready for the bridegroom and entered into the wedding. But the five foolish virgins were not ready for the bridegroom and did not enter the wedding. Then Jesus said: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13).

• A wise and faithful servant is working to the best of his ability (Matt. 25:14-30).

After the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus told His disciples another parable. He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country who called his servants and gave them talents (i.e., money). One received five talents, one received two talents, and the last received one talent. After a long time, the Lord came back and settled accounts with his servants. The servants with five and two talents doubled their lord's money, but the last servant did nothing with his lord's talent. The profitable servants were rewarded and the unprofitable servant was cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

• A wise and faithful servant is ready for judgment (Matt. 25:31-46).

Jesus ends His discourse emphasizing the judgments of which He has already taught. The unprofitable servants will go into everlasting punishment, but the profitable servants will go into eternal life.

Let's ask ourselves these questions: Am I a faithful servant or an evil servant? Am I wise and therefore ready for Christ's return? Am I working to the very best of my ability? Am I ready for judgment?