READY OR NOT HERE I COME
Matthew 24:3 & 27
(3) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
(27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Have you ever heard someone say, “READY OR NOT HERE I COME?”
As a child I played a game called Hide & Seek and would often get caught trying to hide.
I recently had a conversation with a customer at work about Christ soon return.
The phrase came up, “READY OR NOT HERE I COME.”
And folks, that is just the way it’s going to happen upon his return.
“READY OR NOT HERE I COME!”
THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO DELAY HIS COMING
Christ will not delay his coming by waiting on you to get ready.
Those who are ready will enjoy Heaven.
A New Body
A Mansion to live in
See Loved Ones
Perhaps Go Fishing
But those who are not prepared will suffer Eternal Torment in Hell!
Suffering of Being Burned by Fire
Hearing People Hollering & Crying
Realizing There’s No More Second Chances
Suffer Realizing Those In Their Family That Is Headed There
Hell is a real place!
All too often we put too much emphasis on Heaven instead of Hell.
I have learned that Jesus spoke of Heaven only once, He spoke of Hell eleven (11) times!
There is nothing we can do to delay his coming.
In fact, the Book says that the days will be “shortened” instead of lengthened.
Jesus is saying that if you are not, you better get ready.
Because, “READY OR NOT HERE I COME!”
How many of you are ready today?
WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN
Many have tried to predict when he will come but all have been wrong.
One said 1988 (NASA Engineer wrote a book on 88 reasons how I know. Sept. 10)
Some said 1999
Some said year 2000
But not one has got it right. Nor will anyone get it right.
But he is coming, “Ready or Not.”
The same Christ who died some 2000 years ago is coming back!
This same Christ who died so that we might live, is coming back!
Year 2001 or 2021he’s coming back!
Saved or not saved, he’s coming back!
Ready or not Ready, I said he’s coming back!
HE’S COMING WILL BE SUDDEN
The Bible says he will return as a thief in the night (1st Thessalonians 5:2)
How many of you have ever had a thief to come in the night?
Marcia and I had a thief in the night to go through our vehicles last week.
And let me tell you, we had no idea what was going on while we slept.
That is exactly the way it will be when Jesus returns.
He’s coming as a thief in the night!
THERE WILL BE MANY NOT READY WHEN JESUS RETURNS
Matthew 24:43
(43) But know this, that if the goodman 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.
Don’t you know that had I known a thief was coming to our house to go through our vehicles that I would have locked the doors?
Many will not be ready.
Friends of mine
Family of mine
Many people will not be ready
MANY WILL BE CAUGHT UNAWARE / SURPRISED
What an awful feeling it is to be caught unaware.
1. Pop quizzes in school
2. Surprise Birthday Parties
3. For some; In-laws showing up unaware for dinner
It is awful to be caught unaware.
Many will not be ready when Jesus returns as well.
Many will find out that all of us Christians weren’t so crazy after all.
Noah preached 120 years of the coming flood.
Yet it caught everyone by surprise. / They were not ready.
Just as sure as ministers proclaim Christ coming today, many do not believe and many are not ready.
But I have news for you from the Word of God.
God gives us this message.
“READY OR NOT HERE I COME!”
Folks we better be ready!
If you are here and you have not asked Jesus to forgive & Save you, you need to get ready!
WE AS “CHRISTIANS” SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED
The reasons why we shouldn’t be surprise is because we “know” it is going to happen and we should be looking for his return.
A - For those of us who are ready:
“We know it’s going to happen”
“We are looking for him to come back” (Philippians 3:20)
If we are ready, we will not be caught off guard.
Rather we long for the day he returns.
Christ is telling us through his word,
“READY OR NOT HERE I COME!”
B – For those who are not ready:
You can be ready.
Today is your day!
There might not be tomorrow!
Christ says don’t wait.
This is no child’s game.
He’s saying, “READY OR NOT HERE I COME!”
Let me ask you this question.
Are you ready?
Are you ready for Christ return?
Do you know that you would make it to Heaven should he come now?
Wouldn’t you like to know that you are ready should he return today?
1. THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO DELAY HIS COMING
2. WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN
3. WE DO KNOW HE’S COMING WILL BE SUDDEN
4. HIS COMING WILL CATCH MANY BE SURPRISE
5. THERE WILL BE MANY NOT READY WHEN JESUS RETURN
6. AND MANY WILL BE CAUGHT UNAWARE
…For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Christ is saying, “READY OR NOT, HERE I COME”
© Rev. James W. Bryant
Tuesday, 06-19-01 3:58pm
