Are We Ready?

In Medieval times, a king would often have a jester to entertain him and to cheer him up when he was sad or troubled. The jester would tell funny stories, perform tricks, and do most anything to amuse and distract the king in his difficult moments. The jester was called and labeled the king's "fool."

However, in the following story, the label is turned: The story is told of a certain king, who enjoyed his jester's performance very much, making him laugh easily. One day, the king handed the royal scepter to the jester and said, "If you ever find a fool greater than yourself, give this scepter to him."

Not long after, the king grew deathly ill. Feeling very melancholy, the king called for the jester, hoping that he could make him feel better. When the jester arrived, the king said, "Ah, jester, I fear that I am about to depart upon a long journey." The jester asked, "Have you known about this journey for long?" "Well, yes I have" the king replied. The jester then asked, "Have you prepared for this journey?" "No, I'm afraid I have not," the king replied. Then, handing the royal scepter to the king, the jester said, "Then this belongs to you — for you are a greater fool than I."

Wise are those individuals who prepare for appointments they know they must keep. Two such appointments that each and every one of us must keep are death (unless the Lord comes back first) and the judgment to come (Acts 17:30-31). The Hebrew writer tells us, "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). The question is, "Have we prepared ourselves for these two appointments?"

Because of His great love, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world that through Him, we might be prepared for these unavoidable appointments (Hebrews 9:28). On the cross, Jesus bore the sins of the world upon Himself; He paid the price for sin. One may receive the benefits of His sacrificial death by "faith" (Romans 10:17); "repentance" (Luke 13:3,5); "confession" (Romans 10:9-10); "baptism" (Acts 2:38); and a continual "walking in the light as He is in the light" through a life of obedience to God's will (1 John 1:7).

To those who have obeyed the gospel and "eagerly wait for Him...." (Hebrews 9:28), heaven is their promised home (1 Peter 1:3-4). However, no remedy remains for those who die in their sins and enter eternity without God. If Christ is not our sin-bearer, we will bear our own sins in judgment!

"Are we ready?"

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets