Are You Getting Ready?

By Ron Bartanen

     You’ve probably read or heard the following story before.  You may have even heard it from me, but it deserves repeating.
     Before the days of self-serve gas stations, a minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a busy holiday weekend.  The young attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station.
     When the attendant finally motioned him toward a vacant pump, the young man apologized, saying, “Brother Jones, I’m sorry about the delay.  It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.”  The minister chuckled, replying, “I know just what you mean.  It’s the same in my business.”
    As people prepare for a trip, they may, as the time for departure draws nearer and nearer, fully intend to fill the tank well ahead of time.  However, in the heat of more immediate concerns, good intentions soon evaporate.  There seems to always be something else to do that, for some reason, seems more pressing.  The application is often made that all should prepare to die, but preparation is often neglected—not only to be taken care of at the last of one’s life, but even more frequently to never be made.  However, references in the Bible to preparation for death are few.
     The more frequent admonition in the New Testament is to prepare for the return of Jesus Christ.  Even though this event would not take place in the lifetime of His disciples, Jesus did not admonish them to “get ready to die.”  Instead, He urged them, “Watch, therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come….  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:42, 44).  When one knows of no life-threatening illness, one feels no compelling need to “get right with God,” feeling one still has plenty of time.  With the coming of the Lord, however, there is the need for constant readiness.
     The true disciple of Jesus will be watching and waiting—not for the undertaker, but for the upper-taker.  We are not to be caught unprepared.  Death is not something most look forward to with any degree of eagerness, but if you have been cleansed through the blood of Christ, surrendered to His will for your life, and “love His appearing,” you can look forward with anticipation to “the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give (us) in that day” (2 Timothy 4:8).  With such faith and hope you will be able to say with the apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).  Are you getting ready?

- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com