Are You Ready?

Are You Ready?

Life is filled with questions: What career should I pursue? Should I marry this person? Where should I live? But above every question, one stands supreme: “Am I ready?”

Ready for what? Ready for eternity. Every one of us will die a physical death and immediately go into eternity. The Bible is clear: eternity has only two destinations—Heaven or Hell.

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46, LSB).

There is no middle ground, no second chance after death:

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:27-28, LSB).

The question “Am I ready?” is not about finances, health, or reputation. It is about the state of your soul. Are you prepared to meet God?

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The Exclusivity of Salvation

Jesus Himself declared:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6, LSB).

This verse leaves no room for negotiation. Readiness for eternity is not found in self-improvement, religious rituals, or charitable works. It is found only in Jesus Christ.

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God’s Drawing Power

Your desire for salvation doesn’t begin with you. It begins with God. Jesus said:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44, LSB).

If you feel a stirring in your heart, a conviction of sin, or a longing for forgiveness, it may well be God Himself drawing you to Christ. That is not to be ignored—it is a divine invitation.

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Salvation by Grace, Not Works

The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, LSB).

Many people believe they can “earn” their way into Heaven by being good, religious, or generous. But the Bible says otherwise. If salvation could be earned, then Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. Salvation is not a paycheck; it is a gift.

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The Helpless State of Humanity

The Apostle Paul also tells us:

“as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;” (Romans 3:10, LSB).

This means no amount of human effort can meet God’s perfect standard. We are all guilty before Him. Recognizing this truth is the first step to readiness: acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves.

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Why Readiness Matters: No Second Chances

The urgency of the question “Are you ready?” is clear:

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27, LSB).

There is no “do-over” after death. There is no purgatory, no reincarnation, no chance to “make it right later.” The decision must be made now.

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Beware of False Readiness

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (Matthew 7:21–23, LSB)

This passage warns that outward” religiosity is not readiness. One may claim Christ, even perform works in His name, and yet still be lost if there is no genuine relationship. Readiness requires true faith, not just religious words. Where does faith come from?

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, LSB).

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What Must I Do to Be Saved?

and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house.” (Acts 16:30–31, LSB)

But also understand that just believing in Christ is not enough. Someone can believe that Jesus Christ walked the earth, not yet be a true believer in Him, thereby forfeiting his or her salvation.

“You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19, LSB).

True salvation comes only through the new birth:

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, LSB).

“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation” (Romans 10:9–10, LSB).

Readiness is not a passive state. It flows from both an inner conviction and an outward declaration. When the heart is truly persuaded of Christ’s resurrection, the natural response is a mouth that proclaims Him as Lord. One way to discern whether someone is genuinely a Christian—saved for eternal life in heaven—is by watching how their heart’s belief shows itself through their actions.

“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16–20, NASB).

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Application: Living Ready

• Examine Your Heart Daily

  Paul urged believers to test themselves:

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5, LSB)

• Live with Eternity in View

Jesus taught us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20, LSB). Readiness means prioritizing eternal values over temporary ones.

• Share the Message with Others

  If you are ready, God calls you to help others get ready. Evangelism is not optional—it is part of readiness. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 (LSB),

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

• Stay Watchful for Christ’s Return

  Jesus said, “Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42, LSB). Readiness involves watchfulness, not complacency.

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Conclusion: Am I Ready?

There is no greater question. Readiness is not about being perfect but being forgiven.

John MacArthur said, “It is not the perfection of one’s life but the direction of a life that provides evidence of regeneration.”

Life is not about self-effort but God’s grace.

Life is not about tomorrow but right now because any of us could perish on a moment’s notice.
If you sense God stirring your heart, do not ignore it. Today is the day of salvation.

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How to Be Ready: A Prayer of Surrender

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you can respond to Him right now in prayer. The words themselves are not a formula, but if they express the truly genuine cry of your heart, God will hear and save you:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. I confess You as my Lord and Savior and surrender my life to You. Please forgive me, change me, and make me ready for eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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What to Do Next

If you prayed that prayer and truly meant it to be your commitment from this day forward, you have passed from death to life. Jesus said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24, LSB).

Here are your next steps:

1. Read God’s Word Daily – Start with one chapter of the Gospel of John to know Jesus better and one chapter of the Book of Proverbs to gain wisdom and discernment.
2. Pray Regularly – Talk to God about everything: your struggles, joys, and needs.
3. Find a Bible-Believing Church – Fellowship with believers will strengthen your faith. Look for expository preaching, verse by verse.
4. Tell Someone – Share with a pastor, friend, or family member what Christ has done for you.
5. Live with Eternity in Mind – Keep asking yourself, “Am I living ready today?”

A Call to Share

If this message has spoken to your heart, don’t keep it to yourself. Someone you know may not be ready for eternity. Share this article, start a conversation, or invite them to church.

Then He (Jesus) said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37, NASB).

You can be part of God’s plan to help others be ready. Be one of the workers.

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