“I am so ready for Jesus to come.”
We have all made that statement at some point in our lives. A person usually says that after some unpleasant experience, or in a time of want, or after reading about or seeing some terrible calamity or evil occur in the world. But are those reasons sufficient for anyone to be ready to be taken out of this world? It is the equivalent of saying, “Get me out of here!”
Wanting something and being prepared to go is not the same as being anxious to leave.
I am going on vacation for a few days and I am anxious to have these days off. However, I still need to pack, make travel and lodging arrangements, and make reservations to board my dog and cat. Someone might wonder if I am truly ready for my vacation. I certainly want to go, and I am anxious to be where I intend to spend my days off, but I have made none of the necessary preparations for my vacation. And that is the difference between wanting to go and being prepared to go.
We are all destined to die; there is no escape from this inevitability. Death is the consequence of sin, and as sinners, we will all die, just as those who have died over the 6,000 years behind us. However, the Bible tells us that there will be a group of people—the 144,000—who will never see death on this earth. We have Bible examples of that group—Enoch and Elijah. But except for these two and the 144,000, not one of us will escape the first death. The truth is, there is one death that everyone in heaven must experience while they are still on this earth—death to self.
Physical death is the consequence of being sinful, which we are by nature. But death to self is the spiritual necessity if we are to spend eternity in heaven, and definitely if it is our desire to be one of the 144,000. This life is only a time of preparation. If I want to see Jesus, then I must do the work of being made ready now, and it must be done here. There is no second chance. Preparation for heaven is our earthwork.
“The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.” Messages to Young People, 157
“You must experience a death to self, and must live unto God. ‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.’ Self is not to be consulted. Pride, self-love, selfishness, avarice, covetousness, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, evil surmisings, must all be subdued and sacrificed forever. When Christ shall appear, it will not be to correct these evils and then give a moral fitness for His coming. This preparation must all be made before He comes. It should be a subject of thought, of study, and earnest inquiry, What shall we do to be saved? What shall be our conduct that we may show ourselves approved of God? …
“Only the faultless will be there [before the throne of God]. None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.” Maranatha, 58
So, what is the purpose of this life? Dying to self. In dying, I reject the world and all its evils and temptations, and in doing so, my selfish nature is cleansed of every stain, and my character is transformed to be like Christ’s. Death to self is the most important experience through which I must pass, and becoming Christlike is the sure result of the daily experience of dying to self.
“There are those who for a time are successful in the struggle against their selfish desire for pleasure and ease. They are sincere and earnest, but grow weary of protracted effort, of daily death, of ceaseless turmoil. Indolence seems inviting, death to self repulsive; and they close their drowsy eyes, and fall under the power of temptation instead of resisting it.
“The directions laid down in the word of God leave no room for compromise with evil. The Son of God was manifested that He might draw all men unto Himself. He came not to lull the world to sleep, but to point out the narrow path in which all must travel who reach at last the gates of the city of God. His children must follow where He has led the way; at whatever sacrifice of ease or selfish indulgence, at whatever cost of labor or suffering, they must maintain a constant battle with self.” Gospel Workers, 135
“True conviction of sin, real heart sorrow because of wickedness, death to self, the daily overcoming of defects of character, and the new birth—these, represented as old things, Paul says had passed away, and all things had become new.” Our Father Cares, 300, 301
“He who has an obedient heart, that is ready to do the will of God, will not only gladly receive truth, but will earnestly seek for truth as for hidden treasure. He will come to the Scriptures with a humble and teachable spirit, seeking to understand how he may walk in the light, and saying, ‘Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?’ (Acts 9:6). He is ready to sacrifice anything and everything, if required, in order that he may be in harmony with the will of God.
“It is not always an easy matter to render obedience to the will of God. It demands firmness of purpose to enter in at the strait gate and to travel in the narrow path that leads to eternal life … . There is not room to enter in at the strait gate and carry the things of this world along.
“He who would enter in at the strait gate must make an entire consecration of his all to God.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 110
So, the next time you hear yourself saying, “I am so ready for Jesus to come,” look closely at your heart’s desires, listen to what you say, and pay attention to what you think and do. You may not be as ready for that day to come as your statement suggests.
“Since we know not the hour of Christ’s coming, we must live soberly and godly in this present world, ‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.’ ” Reflecting Christ, 258
“We are to live only one day at a time. We do not have to do the work of a lifetime in a few hours. We need not look into the future with anxiety; for God has made it possible for us to be overcomers every day.
“By the exercise of living faith today, we are to conquer the enemy. We must today seek God, and be determined that we will not rest satisfied without His presence. We should watch and work and pray as though this were the last day that would be granted us.
“If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today.” The Faith I Live By, 249
Friend, today is the day of our salvation. Today, we must surrender ourselves—body, soul, mind, and spirit—to the One who makes us ready to dwell with Him for eternity. We must not simply want to go; we must now prepare to go.
“The heart of God never yearned toward His earthly children with deeper love and more compassionate tenderness than now. There never was a time when God was ready and waiting to do more for His people than now. And He will instruct and save all who choose to be saved in His appointed way. Those who are spiritual can discern spiritual things and see tokens of the presence and work of God everywhere.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 455
“Sanctification is not the work of a day or a year, but of a lifetime. Without continual efforts and constant endeavor, there can be no real advancement in the divine life, no attainment of the victor’s crown.” The Southern Watchman, January 17, 1905
“The voice of the angel seems to ring in my ears … Get ready, get ready, get ready, lest ye be weighed in the balance and found wanting.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 253
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11
“Therefore you also be ready … .” Luke 12:40, first part
“No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul.
“It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside of ourselves. Therefore, there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the soul before Him. Only by constant renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk safely.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 159, 160
Let this be our prayer. Let our work during these closing hours of earth’s history be “to make a heart and a life surrender” (The Upward Look, 289), letting the old man die so that a complete change of character can occur in our lives. May we truly be made ready for Jesus to come, to at last hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Judy Rebarchek is the managing editor of LandMarks magazine. She can be reached at judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.