When I was very young, along side the road leading to Rome, someone had written on a huge boulder the words "Prepare to meet thy God."
I'm sure each of you know what the word prepare means, but still let's go over it. The word prepare means: To make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity; to make fit, to qualify. (And to be prepared means; subjected to a special process or treatment.)
I couldn't remember reading the exact words "prepare to meet thy God" in the Bible, but there are verses contained therein that mean the same as those words.
In Matthew 3:1-2 we read where John the Baptist came preaching the words, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." To repent is to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life. It is a change of mind that bears fruit in a changed life or life style.
To repent of your sins and turning to God is "preparing to meet God."
In Luke 13:1 we read of some Galileans who were slain by Pilate's soldiers. Pilate had their blood mingled with their sacrifices blood. Christ said of this incident (Luke 13:3) "except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." Christ made His point to show that ALL need to repent.
Then in Acts 17:30 we read "God...now commandeth all men everywhere to repent."
If we want to be prepared to meet God, to have the assurance of sins forgiven, repentance is necessary. 2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
The return of the Lord is nearer now than ever and with every passing day, every hour it is closer and closer. Peter is telling us in the above verse (and verse 8) that the seeming delay of Christ's return is (1) because God does not view time as we do and (2) because He wants more people to repent. (This could be the day for his return. Are you prepared?)
If God is dealing with your heart, don't put Him off. 2 Cor 6:2 states "...now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation."
Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10) and in John 6:37 Jesus says "HIm that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."
Christ is our only hope of redemption. He is our way to God. In John 14:6 Jesus states "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." And in Acts 4:12 we read "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
No works of any kind that we do can save us. Eph 2:8-9 states "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the give of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Friend, think about what this article is about - prepare to meet thy God. We aren't promised tomorrow. James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
Heb 9:27 says "and it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men."
Rom 1:20 states "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." There is NO excuse if one rejects Christ. RYRIE says on this verse - THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE - The things that are made (creation) reveal to all men the eternal power and Godhead (divinity) of the true God, so that the rejection of this truth makes a man without excuse before God.
(I had several more scriptures but space wouldn't permit)
We used to sing a song at church that said "Careless soul why will you linger, wandering from the fold of God, Hear ye not the invitation, O prepare to meet they God. Careless soul O heed the warning, for your life will soon be gone, O how sad to face the judgment, unprepared to meet they God."
Friend you do not have to be unprepared to meet God. You can be saved! Jesus gave His life on the cross so we could be saved! Acts 16:31 says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
John 6:47, Jesus Himself said "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
Please read John 3:14-19
Jessie Lee Harris