People Get Ready

Today’s Bible readings are Numbers 26:52-28:15, Luke 3:1-22, Psalm 61:1-8, & Proverbs 11:16-17

  

Luke 3:7-9

⁷ When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? ⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. ⁹ Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

I’m sure that John was not the most popular preacher of his day. I’m sure that there were many who didn’t care for him or the message that he was preaching. I am also convinced that many in leadership wanted to shut him up but they feared what the crowd would think. Yet, one thing I know for certain is that God was GREATLY pleased in John.

 

Matthew 11:7-11

⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? ⁸ Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. ⁹ Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. ¹⁰ John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    and he will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹ “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

John did not have a “feel good” message. In fact, his message was intended to bring sorrow, “Godly sorrow”. He was a preacher of repentance. His message was much needed because it would pave the way for the Messiah’s coming.

One of the things that really jump off the pages of the bible to me is that people of John’s day thought they were right with God by their family connections. They thought that since they were born into the right family & bloodline that they were cool with God. They believed that God was obligated to them because of who they were. They were badly mistaken.

John dealt with them on this matter. He simply told them, “Look, it doesn’t matter who your mamma & papa are. You have to have a connection with God yourself.” He went on to tell them that if they are truly connected to God that their life will show it by the fruit that it produces. No fruit = no connection to the Vine.

I really believe that this is a message that our generation needs to hear as well. We live in a day much like the day of John the Baptist. Messiah is getting ready to come again, only this time He will not come as the gentle Lamb that Israel saw. He is going to came as the Mighty, Roaring, Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He will come with fire in His eyes & a sword in His mouth. He will not come to save the nations, but rather, to strike them down.

 

Revelation 19:11-16

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. ¹² His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. ¹³ He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. ¹⁶ On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

This day is quickly approaching us. We need to have many voices rise up to be like that of John the Baptist declaring, “PEOPLE GET READY!!!”

There are many in our churches & our country who think they too are cool with God because they live in America & were raised in the church. Maybe their daddy was a deacon. Maybe their grandma was a Sunday school teacher. They have gone to church their whole life but have NEVER experienced God.

There are millions of others who simply think that just because they live in America they are cool with God. They believe that because they are civilized they are saved. They believe that because they live upstanding, moral lives that they are safe. They trust in their own righteousness to save them. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

We are only saved by grace. We only have hope in Christ. It doesn’t matter how good we think we are, without His blood covering us we are but filthy rags. It doesn’t matter what your daddy or grandma did for the kingdom. Their faith can’t save you. It is a personal thing. Their fruit is not your fruit. You must decide. You must repent. You must prove by your actions that you have turned from sin to a Holy God. You must enter into a relationship with Jesus for yourself.

When you stand before God Almighty, He is not going to ask you who your parents were, nor will He ask you about what church you attended; nothing you ever did in your own righteousness will ever be enough to save you. The only thing that will get it is done is if you have repented & accepted the payment of Jesus Christ’s blood for your sins. This is your wake-up call. Please don’t reject it.

 

Pastor Richard Schlotter