Are You Ready?

When I was in college, there was a street preacher who used to come to the free speech area of campus.  Everyday he would come and scream at the college students that they were going to Hell and needed saving.

Now, by and large, the gist of his message was correct.  A large percentage of those students did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and therefore were on a path leading to Hell.  The problem I had with him was two-fold.  One: He was extremely legalistic and told people that listening to certain forms of music doomed them to Hell.  I just can't get on board with that one.  Two: His approach kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  Screaming at kids to abandon music and movies in order to obtain eternal life is not biblical and unaffective.

You see, he screamed and hollered and made a lot of noise.  People came out to see him.  They went to hear his words.  His words were off, but they came to see him.  Many came to argue against him and laugh at him.

Yet everyday, he'd trudge out to that same spout and shout his message to all who would and could hear.

It's not unlike John the Baptist.  Now John's message wasn't quite as legalistic, but his methods were just as controversial.  He taught that Jewish people were acting like Gentiles, and as such, needed to be baptized back into the Jewish faith.  And they needed to hurry.  Messiah was coming and the Israelites needed to be ready for his arrival.

He left them with a great question we ourselves need to consider:  Are you ready to meet the Messiah?

Now for our two different culture that means two different things.  The Jewish people were expecting a political, military, kingly leader who would usher in Israel's independence and self-rule.  They wanted to be ready to be blessed, as a nation, by the Messiah.  We await his second coming, which will usher in judgment and ultimately, for Christians, a new heaven and a new earth free of pain and suffering. 

But the question still remains:  Are you ready to meet the Messiah?  The Israelites were waiting to meet him in the flesh.  We are waiting to meet him as a supernatural being.  And make no mistake, you will meet the Messiah, one way or the other.  Either he will come back in your lifetime, or you will die and face him.  But you will meet him.  Are you ready?

Jesus tells us we only get one shot to follow him.  Once our life is over, so is our chance at salvation.  Are you ready to meet the Messiah?

Likewise, we have to share that message with the people we know.  Have we done everything we can to get them ready to meet the Messiah?

It's such a simple question, but also such an important one:  Are you ready?  I really hope so.

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