Are You Ready

Billy Graham

Do you really believe that Jesus Christ is going to come back to this earth again? I do. And I don't see any other hope for the world because we're heading toward a catastrophe.

The Bible says, "scoffers will come in the last days . . . saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? . . . all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.' For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and . . . the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:3-7).

In other words, a judgment is going to come on this earth, and it will be a judgment of fire.

For years people believed that the threat of a nuclear holocaust was diminishing, but nuclear tests have again raised fears that an incident can still plunge us into a global catastrophe. Scientists say that we're closer now to world destruction than at any other time in the past. The end of the world as we know it is a possibility scientifically.

The Word of God speaks of the certainties of the end of the world. Jesus said, "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37). What were the days of Noah like? And is there a parallel for today? The people of Noah's day were very wicked: "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5b). Marriage was abused (Genesis 6:1-13). People were corrupt (Genesis 6:1-13). Violence prevailed. There was a lot of religion, but it was decadent. They were preoccupied with things and didn't have time for God.

So God warned them, "Unless you repent and change your ways, you're going to face the judgment."

In the middle of all that corruption Noah dared to walk with God. Noah believed in God, and true faith determined how Noah lived. By that faith Noah built a ship in the middle of the desert, and he and his family were saved when the waters of destruction came (Genesis 6:1-13; Hebrews 11:7).

And true faith should determine how you live. Do you know God as your personal Lord and Savior? Do you worship God in your home? Do you have regular Bible reading and prayer?

Today the only bright spot on the horizon of this world is the promise of the coming again of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. We can't go on like this much longer, either morally or scientifically. The technology that was supposed to save us is ready to destroy us.

Yet we're not to wait in terror, because as Christians, we have the hope of the return of Christ. When is He going to return? Jesus said, "Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36).

When is the end of the world coming? It is coming for you the moment you die, and that could be at any time for any of us. You may be expecting to live for many more years, but you don't know for sure. We never know. God said, "Prepare to meet your God" (Amos 4:12b). What have you done spiritually in your life to prepare for that moment when your heart stops beating?

The Bible says that to see the kingdom of God you must be born again (John 3:7). You need to make a commitment to Christ today. This is your moment with God.

What do you have to do?

First, you have to repent of your sins. You may not have the strength to change your way of living. Repentance means that you say to God, "I have sinned. I am sorry for my sin. I am willing to change my way of living. But I can't do it alone. Jesus, please come into my heart and help me live for You."

Second, you come by faith. That means that you put your whole trust in Him and say, "Lord, I give myself to You."

You may be a good person. You may do all the good that you can think of, but all of that isn't enough. You must come in childlike faith to Jesus who died on the cross for you, who rose again, who is waiting for you to make that commitment.

Are you ready to meet God? In faith, make your future secure today!

Used with permission of the Billy Graham Association.

© 2003 Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
Translated by permission of Good News Publishers
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