Be Ready

November 2

From sports events to financial investments, everyone likes to be a winner and to associate with winners. When it comes to that uniquely American sport, football, a tried and true fan can reiterate the statistics that have been pertinent to his team for the last several decades. In the realm of finance, markets are closely watched. Perhaps you are one of those who maintains the statistics of the sport that interests you most.

In the religious arena, there are many more ‘teams’ playing in the league in the United States of America than there were when our founding fathers declared that there was to be religious freedom for all. They didn’t have any idea of the influx of ideas that would come into the country with the passage of time.

They couldn’t have imagined that there would be other religions besides Judaism and the various denominations of Christianity that exist here in our day. Yet, the Lord has always known, for He "knows the end from the beginning," Isaiah 46:10, and He is never intimidated when His ancient enemy seems to be making inroads into territory that is rightfully His.

Jesus doesn’t want us to be intimidated either. In I Corinthians 15:58, Paul said to the believers of his day and penned for all who would follow them, “My dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” We may stand on the assurance that though governments, financial institutions, football teams may rise and fall, Jesus stands triumphantly as eternity’s Victor!

Because you believe in Him and have placed your life in His hands for time and eternity, you, too, are, eternally victorious over death, hell, and the grave (I Corinthians 15:57). In fact, Paul asks, "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For Thy sake, we are killed all the day long, but in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us and gave Himself for us," Romans 8:35-39.

Don't be deceived by the myriad 'teams' that have entered the playing field. Don't be deceived when the wicked one appears to be on the ascendancy for a time. No! Stand fast in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Corinthians 2:2); know beyond a shadow of doubting that your "Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25) and that HE shall stand at that later day upon the earth." Jesus is coming back "at an hour when you think not," (Luke 12:40).

If you're keeping statistics, you know it's true. Be ready.