The most important question any Christian can ask is this: “Am I ready for Jesus to come?”
What does ready mean in terms of God’s message to believers? What is required to make someone ready for Jesus’ coming?
To be ready, of course, requires initial salvation. Do I know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior? “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). Salvation is an ongoing process, and the final result of salvation is redemption. Jesus promises to come again and lead us to heaven (1 Thess 4:16–17). But between these two great events—salvation and redemption—there is also a need for sanctification and a life of service.
God’s plan for our lives is that— while we are waiting and getting prepared for His return—we should live a life of sanctification and service. We are reminded of this truth in Jesus’ prophetic sermon (Matt 24– 25), where He teaches us not only about the signs that will take place before His return, but also about what comprises a real spiritual life in preparation for His second coming.
We are familiar with the spiritual lessons of the parables of the ten virgins and the talents. One teaches us about the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and the other teaches what the Holy Spirit would like to do through us. In other words, one is about a life of sanctification and the other one a life of service.
The reality is that many Christians today are looking for sanctification, yet are not living a life of service. They are not using their spiritual gifts. Maybe this is why many Christians are paralyzed in their spiritual life. Perhaps this is one of the reasons some churches are not growing. Some church members are stuck in their comfort zone—only searching for their own nurturing or sanctification, but not practicing a life of service. Unfortunately, they are missing a very important element in their spiritual preparation for heaven.
Jesus is Coming! Get Involved! is the theme for the 2020 General Conference Session in Indianapolis, IN, USA. It is an invitation for every Seventh-day Adventist member to get involved in mission (TMI, Total Member Involvement). It is a call to each one of us to use our spiritual gifts to help others know Jesus as their personal Savior.
Remember that your talent is your mission. Wherever you live, work, and study, you can be a blessing in someone’s life. May the messages presented during this global church gathering inspire and challenge each one of us to be more motivated in leading someone to the foot of the cross. And may we see Jesus coming again very soon!
