Are You Ready to Meet Your God?

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee”: Luke 12:20a KJV.

Life is so fragile. Recently, there were many persons who I knew personally that are no longer here on earth. The last person looked healthy, happy and then we got the sad news. There was no warning. We were left in shock and are very sad. Each day we awake, and we make plans for the day. We also make plans for the days, weeks, months and years ahead. This is all good, but the truth is we do not know what tomorrow holds. Then there are those persons who worries about tomorrow or worry about things that may not even happen.

Let’s look at what scripture says about both scenarios. In the book of Luke 12, the story is told of this rich man. The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:16-20 KJV.

We see the rich man who was not satisfied with what he had already acquired, but desired more and more. He did not even consider if he will live to see the next day. There were no thoughts of God in his plans. His plans were to build greater and store up more. Listen to what he said, I will say to my soul, ‘thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry’. Little did this man know that his end was soon approaching. Today we are here, today we are no more.

Then there are those who worry about what they will eat or drink tomorrow. Yeshua said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Luke 12:22-30 NLT.

Instead of seeking to acquire more and more things, or worry about things, let us put our trust in God and make sure that we are ready to meet Him. For we do not know the day or the hour when we will leave this earth. Let’s examine our lives; if we were to die now, would we be ready to meet our Savior?

Crossing Your Own River Jordan

“Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing…giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you.” – Joshua 3:1-4

Joshua 3 tells the story of the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river These were the people who had been delivered from the hands of Pharaoh and out of Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea. Then, after 40 years in the wilderness, they came upon one last stumbling block between them and the promised land: the Jordan river.

They were facing 200 miles of pure discouragement. Why? At that time of the year, the Jordan river was swollen and overflowing because of the rains during the harvest season. The Israelites camped out on the banks of the Jordan for three days, presumably trying to figure out how to cross it. They were stuck.

Maybe you're not where you used to be, but you're stuck in a place you're not destined to be...Your own Jordan river. Your Jordan could be financial, mental, emotional, or even spiritual. Whatever the case may be, you have found yourself in a place where you wish you were not. You're in good company, however, because we've all been there at some point in our lives. We are anointed, we have gifts and talents, but we've all been stuck. We are just not meant to stay there.

Joshua sought directions from the Lord about how to cross the river, and he received them. God instructed Joshua to have the priests, who were transporting the Ark of the Covenant, “Take a few steps into the river and stop there...As soon as their feet touched the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall” (Joshua 3:8-13). That's exactly what they did, and “they waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground” (Joshua 3:17).

Whatever season we're in, we need God's clear instructions to face our own rivers. We've got to be like Joshua and the children of Israel, seeking the face of the Lord for strategy and direction. If God says to move, then we must move. If He says to speak, then we have to muster the boldness to speak His heart. If He says to be still, then we must do so until His will be clear. If we're to cross our Jordan, obedience to the voice of the Lord must be our top priority. I don't know about you, but I refuse to stay stuck and settle for less than what I'm destined to receive and achieve.

Forgive

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you”- Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Forgiveness is a matter that is dear to the heart of our compassionate God – and forgiveness paid a tremendous part in the redemption of mankind.

Forgiveness was also a theme that was close to the heart of our kind and gracious Yeshua, and much of His teaching and training surrounds the principle of forgiveness – gracious, beautiful, unconditional forgiveness. Forgiveness was one of the final thoughts on the heart of our Messiah as He hung on the Cross and uttered those universe-shattering words: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Forgiveness should be a subject to which we should also play close attention, for forgiveness is one of the godly garments with which we have been covered and clothed, and our call to kindness, compassion, and forgiveness rests on the immeasurable forgiveness and mercy that each of us have received in Yeshua.

There is an order in which Paul writes about this. Firstly: "All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice." It is only after these negative emotions have been dealt with, at the foot of the Cross, that we can continue with Paul's next exhortation: "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Yeshua has also forgiven you." Believers will get plenty of hatred from the world; from each other we need love and support. Do you allow small problems to get in the way of loving other believers? Yeshua commands in John 15:17 that you love them, and He will give you strength to do it.

Let us be those who are quick to forgive, quick to ask for forgiveness, and in so doing glorify our dear Lord and Savior. Love each other!