“For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus,” Acts 21:13.
Last week I wrote that death did not scare Paul because he was in a proper relationship with God. Being baptized into Christ, he knew that at the moment of his death, all would be well. But there is more to being prepared to die than just being immersed with Christ. 2) Paul was not afraid to die because he divorced himself from the world. There are too many people who are not ready to die today because of their love for the world and the works of this world, i.e., the works of the flesh. Paul warned his audience in Romans 8:12-13 and in Galatians 5:19-21 that if they continued to walk in the flesh, they would not be permitted to enter heaven. Paul was ready to die because he didn’t count the things of this world as something worth holding. He counted the things of this world as refuse that he might gain Christ, Philippians 3:3, 8-10. And the apostle of love tells us not to love the world nor the things in it, 1 John 2:15-17.
Paul was ready to die because he heeded his advice in Colossians 3:2 and had set his affections on things above, not on things of this earth. 3) Paul was prepared to die because he was faithful in service to the Lord. Paul said he had “fought a good fight, finished the course and kept the faith,” 2 Timothy 4:7. He also reminds us that it is required of stewards to be found faithful, 1 Corinthians 4:2. And the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 clearly teaches that many will be punished because they refused to accept responsibility and not properly serve their master. To conclude, God has reserved eternal salvation for the obedient, Hebrews 5:9. And one who has not put Christ on in baptism and then divorced oneself from the world, nor is faithful in service to God is one who is NOT prepared to meet God. Are you ready to die? Not knowing the time, date, or place should serve as a warning that we should not linger in getting right with God.
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