Are You Ready?

 N.T.#614 "Are You Ready?"

August 18, 2025 

Luke 17-Part 8 

LET IT GLOW

The Jews during Jesus' days on earth believed the Messiah would establish an earthly, political kingdom. Jesus said that wasn't His goal. His kingdom is not of this world. (He told Pilate in John 18:36) His goal instead was to rule in the hearts of men and women. (Billy Graham)

A kingdom is never far from its king. A kingdom is its king. Jesus pointed to Himself. It was right in front of the Pharisees, yet they rejected Jesus as their King. The Pharisees wanted to know when the kingdom of God would come, not realizing it had already arrived-Jesus was there.

Then Jesus speaks to His disciples:

• Don't be deceived when people say the Son of man is here or there-do not follow them. (verse 23)
• Jesus said that He must suffer many things and be rejected by that generation. (verse 25)
• Here Jesus illustrates the attitudes of nonbelievers during that time using Noah and Lot's stories. 
• People watched Noah build the ark for 120 years, living like the world would remain the same, unbelieving, yet perished in the flood. Only 8 survived.
• Only Lot and his family survived the fire and brimstone judgment Lot's wife looked back at the city, warned not to, but mourned the life she had left, wanting to carry her old life with her, died becoming a pillar of salt. 
• People continued life in sin, not heeding the warning of God's coming judgment. (verses 26-32)

Where are you and where are you going? The life of this world, defined by the pursuit of wealth (16:13), will result in eternal, spiritual death. Life in the kingdom demands putting to death any desire for wealth. We must move toward the kingdom with haste, as though the world were on fire. It soon will be.

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights on Luke]

LET IT GROW

The kingdom of God is not like an earthly kingdom with geographical boundaries. It is God's Spirit working in people's lives and in relationships. What is God doing in your heart, your church, your family?

The thing is, life will be going on as usual when Christ returns. We don't know when it will be, but we must be ready to meet Him. Keep your commitment to Jesus Christ strong, as well as your faith. We will leave it all here when we are raptured out to our eternal home. What a day that will be!

LET IT GO

One day it will all be over. Either we are raptured or we die individually. Are you ready, my friend?

Believing in Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. Have you asked Him to forgive your sins and be your Savior?