HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU ~ Precious C Philip

Eventually, Jesus will come, how ready are you? This is a question we don't often get asked or take time to reflect on these days that many of us are daily preoccupied with one activity, assignment or the other. We wake up, go to work or school, come back, eat, browse social media and sleep. 

So many Christians do not even remember that Jesus is still coming back; some do not believe He is coming back again, while some think He is not coming back any time soon. But, the Scripture admonishes us to be ready for He can come at any time the Father instructs Him to come. "You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."  Matthew 24:44

Not being mindful of the truth that Jesus is still coming back and can return any time is the reason why many churchgoers are delaying to genuinely surrender their lives to Jesus and become truly born again; it is the reason why a lot of Christians professing to be born again are not making much efforts to quit the ungodly lifestyle and sinful habits they had before they became born again.

And so, we have many born again Christians still toying with sin: fornicating, lying, cheating, giving and receiving bribes, committing adultery, cohabiting with someone they're not lawfully married to, dating and sleeping with married men and women. This ought not to be so. God is not happy with this because He wants all men to repent in toto and live a sanctified and godly life.

To answer those who are secretly thinking in their hearts that Jesus is delaying to come because He is incapable of coming back, the Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 

Dear reader, if you're still living in sin as a born again Christian, or a nominal Christian who goes to church but does not live in obedience to the commands of God in the Bible because you lack the power to do so (as a result of you not being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit yet), please I beseech you with the mercies of God to repent today and genuinely come to Jesus.

God is being patient with you; He wants you to repent and turn to Him in total submission to His will, because that is what qualifies you to spend eternity with Him in the Kingdom of heaven, not just going to church or getting involved in church activities. If you're not living in obedience to the Word of God, keeping the commands of God, all the acts of service you do in church and all your giving of tithes and offerings means nothing to God; He doesn't recognize any of it. It may be hard for you to believe, but it is the truth.

Obedience is much more important to God than church activities or giving of gifts to God. "But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."  1 Samuel 15:22. Your obedience to the commands of God and your submission to the will of God is what God first looks for.

God commended and rewarded Abraham for his obedience and blessed him for his obedience. "...because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions (Genesis 26:5). "And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me (Genesis 22:18).

After you are born again, you must seek to obey God. You must determine to obey God regardless. Ask the Holy Spirit for grace, daily, to live a life of prompt obedience to God's commandments, instructions and laws. Decide to obey God and submit to His will in spite of the hostility of the world around you. "Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:27 (AMP)

Anything that will make you miss heaven is not worth it: friendship, relationship, career, job, pleasure, money, material possessions, fame, power, sex, disobedience to the word of God... it is not worth it!

Remember, God is patient with you, but He will not be patient with you forever, because even though He is a patient God, He is a Keeper of His Word; so eventually, Jesus will come back when you least expect it. It is therefore a wise thing for you to repent now from sinful living and start living righteously - in order to be ready whenever He comes. 

Receive grace to live in obedience to the word of God and to live rapture ready, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Stay blessed.