Lost And Found

Lost And Found

A Mother's Faith-John Gray's Miracle Testimony

God is still performing miracles!

The Gospel - Good News in Perilous Times

In the Garden of Eden mankind was separated from God by the sin of Adam & Eve.  A Holy God can’t stand to be in the presence of sin so that caused a wedge between mankind and God.  God told Adam that he could freely eat of any tree in the garden with the exception of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  That tree he told him not to eat of because if he did he would surely die. How is it that we are always drawn to do those things that are deadly to us yet we are willing to take our chances? We have a conflict of two natures within us. 

Paul said it best in Roman chapter 7 verses (14 – 25)  “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.  For I do not understand my own actions. (Have you had one of those days where you just didn’t even understand your own self and why you did what you did?) For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

Sin separated us from God but Jesus was our bridge over the troubled waters of sin.  Jesus came forth from Mary’s womb to Glorify God, edify mankind, and to horrify and terrify the Devil.  Jesus, the immaculate Lamb of God came to take away the sin of the world. 

He came through 42 generation. Before time began, Christ existed with His Heavenly Father. He was born in Bethlehem, hidden in Egypt, raised in Nazareth, baptized in the Jordan, and tempted in the wilderness. He lived on this sin cursed earth some 33 ½ years for the sole purpose preparing a way of escape from Hell for us.  In His presence the blind saw, the lame walked, the dumb talked, the diseased were healed, and demoniacs were set free.  

During His final days upon the earth He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane over His coming death.  He took His closest friends deeper into the Garden of Gethsemane with Him just to pray on His behalf.  But when the rubber really meets the road it boils down to nobody but you and God.   Jesus went deeper into the garden and cried our “Father if it be thy will let this cup pass from me.”  Jesus knew what His Father wanted Him to do but the thought of the suffering and pain He would soon endure was too heavy a burden to carry.  He returned to see if His 3 closest friends were interceding for Him but realized they had fallen asleep on the job.  Don’t let the Lord catch you sleeping at such a critical time in your life.  You better wake up so you can be ready.    Jesus prayed until His sweat dripped down like great drops of blood.  In His obedience to the will of His Father He ended by saying "not my will but thou will be done." 

Soon after His surrender to the will of His Father, He was kissed with the kiss of death by Judas Iscariot.  He was tried and although they could not find any fault in Him the crowd shouted crucify Him, crucify Him!  He was whipped and beaten all night long until His body was not recognizable. Then, Jesus Christ took our sins on the weight of His shoulders to Calvary. It wasn’t the weight of the cross that was unbearable but it was your sin and my sin that weighed him down. 

They placed a crown of thorns upon His head.  Why his head?  So you and I could lose Adam’s mind and have the mind of Christ. They stretched His arms wide and nailed Jesus to and old rugged cross and hung him between two thieves.   One of those thieves mocked him but the other realized who Jesus was and asked forgiveness for His sin.  Jesus had to put the brakes on death to receive one who was willing to surrender all.   They mocked Him, spit upon Him, and He simply asked His Father to forgive them for they know not what they do.  Finally He cried out Eli, Eli, lama Sabachthani? Being interpreted My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me.  When He cried out , “It is finished!” and the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to bottom, and the earth did quake and the rocks were split in pieces, and dead believers were raised?

Finally, He hung His head in the locks of His shoulders and died for the entire world.  He was buried in Joseph’s new tomb and on schedule rose out of the grave on the third day with all power in His hand.  His name is Jesus and right now He’s sitting on the right hand of God interceding for you and I.  He’s giving you and I the opportunity to know that we will be ready when Jesus comes.   We used to sing a song when I was growing up that said Sign me up for the Christian Jubilee.  Write my name on the roll.  I’ve been changed since the Lord has lifted me I want to be ready when Jesus comes.  Well today you can move from wanting to be to being secure in knowing that you will be ready when Jesus comes.  All you have to do is sincerely ask Jesus to come into your heart and to take over ownership of your mind, body, and spirit and live a life of holiness and obedience to God.  If you do this with a sincere heart when He comes back you will be ready to be promoted from this life on earth to our eternal home in that pearly gated community on Heaven’s Boulevard. 

Whoever Takes the Son Gets It All

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed father looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. But the day came when war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram that his beloved son had been killed while carrying a fellow soldier to a medic.
          One morning a knock came at the door of the old man’s home, and as he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” “I’m an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of his son. Though the art critics would never consider the work a piece of genius, the painting did feature the young man’s face in striking detail, and seemed to capture his personality.
         The following spring, the old man became ill and died. The art world was in anticipation! According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned. The day soon arrived, and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed with not a sound from those who came to buy. From the back of the room someone callously called out, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the important paintings.” There were other voices which echoed in agreement. But the auctioneer replied, “No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. “I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it. I will bid the $100.” “I have a bid for $100,” called the auctioneer. “Will anyone go higher?” After a long silence the auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice, gone!” The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone was heard to say, “Now we can get on with it!” But the auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There is millions of dollars worth of art here! We demand that you explain what’s going on!” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son... gets it all.”
          So how do we know that we have a place reserved in Heaven?  How do I know that I have a relationship with the Son and I get it all?    The book of Romans gives us a roadmap to heaven.  

The Roman’s Road to Salvation

Romans 3:10 (We Were All Born in the Same Sinking Ship.)

10 As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one;

Romans 3:23 (All Have Sinned.)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 (There is a Penalty for Sin.)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 (Christ Paid the Penalty)

8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9,10 (We Can Receive Salvation through Faith)

9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:13 (Salvation through Faith)

13  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Assurance Scripture: 

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:9

Don't Wait Too Late Even the Earth is Travailing

Matthew 25:11-13

Many people are great procrastinators. There is a time called “Too Late.” The experience of death is the great hope of the Christian and the great fear for the sinner. The second coming of Christ will be with finality and power. Someday there will be a reckoning, and no tomorrow.” The foolish bridesmaids cried for the door to be opened to them, but their cries were insincere, for even though they said they wanted in, they never made preparation to enter. Their preparation would have been the proof of their true desire.

In this parable the groom represents the approaching Jesus and the bridesmaids are the people of the Christian community. The foolish bridesmaids’ being locked out is symbolic of judgment, a continuing theme throughout Matthew.  The wise bridesmaids represent those who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation and are living righteous and holy awaiting Christ’s return.  The lack of oil on the behalf of the foolish virgins represents not being ready when the bridegroom arrives. 

No one knows when Jesus will come back so He says to be ready for any hour.  Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”  An expectant mother usually has her bags packed long before the arrival of her child.  Are your bags packed and ready? Are you ready to leave this earth by death if Jesus tarries or to be caught up and to take flight with Jesus when He descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel?  Are you ready to hear the trumpet sound and see the dead in Christ arise? (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

  Don’t get distracted by what seems to be a delay.  Those who are ready will join the celebration and the feast in the kingdom of God, while those who are not prepared will be shut out.  You must be, you got to be ready when Jesus comes!  Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.   Look at how the Earth is crying out for us to get ready. 

The year 2011 has been a year of unexplainable disaster upon disaster.   

January

•  Earthquakes in Argentina (2), China, Chile, Japan, East Iran, & California.

§  Dead birds found in Arkansas, Louisiana, Canada, South America, Kentucky, Texas, Sweden, Maryland, New Zealand

§  Dead fish found in Arkansas and Brazil

§  Yellow fever kills more than 40 in Uganda

§  Major flood in Australia & Brazil

§  Shift of the Earth’s magnetic pole

§  40,000 crabs found dead in England

§  Huge waves destroy homes in Indonesia

·          February/March

§  Thousands of marine animals found dead in the Amazon.

§  Earthquakes in New Zealand, Japan (3), California (2), Vanuatu (South Pacific Ocean), Burma & Thailand,

§  Dead fish found in Florida, California, Texas – Fish & frogs dead in Marquette Lagoon

§  Tsunami in Japan

§  Highway falls into the Pacific Ocean in California

·         April /May

§  Earthquakes in South Sandwich Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan (2), New Guinea

§  Dead birds in Kansas

§  Dead fish in Texas, Connecticut, New York, Philippines,

§  Deadly Tornados in North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, New Zealand, Minneapolis, Missouri, Oklahoma,

§  Major flooding in Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas

§  Volcano in Iceland followed by small earthquakes

§  Typhoon in the Philippines

·         June

§  Deadly tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods

Don’t ignore the warning. God is speaking very loudly do you hear what He’s saying?  GET READY! 

No One Can Do It For You

Matthew 25: 8-10

No one can do it for you. Only you can keep your desk clean (see my first post). The foolish bridesmaids saw that they did not have enough oil, and they asked their wise friends to loan them some of theirs, but that was not possible. Someone else’s faith will not cover you. Just because you were reared in a Christian home or you are in church with other people of faith does not mean that you have faith.  It will not rub off just by sitting next to someone who has a vital relationship with Christ.  You cannot “catch” faith like you catch a cold.  You cannot borrow it from your friends, and you cannot get it from your parents.  God has no grandchildren, only children. Every spiritual birth comes directly from Him. Your faith must be your own.

Don’t try to borrow someone else’s oil; you need to have some of your own. A relationship with Jesus Christ cannot be borrowed. The foolish bridesmaids did not realize their need of oil until the bridegroom appeared. There are many, as Matthew Henry says, “who care not to live the [Christian] life, yet [want to] die the death of the righteous.” Jesus said, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning” in Luke 12:35-36.   The wise bridesmaids said to the others, “Go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” God is the dispenser of oil, and you need to come to him while there is still time.

Be Sure You are Not Just a Look Alike

                                              Matthew 25: 1-7

It is interesting that in the parable the bridesmaids all appear to be alike. They all thought of themselves as bridesmaids. They all dressed alike. They were all expecting the bridegroom. When the bridegroom was delayed they all fell asleep. They all had lamps. All of them trimmed their lamps. They all wanted to be a part of the wedding feast. But not all of them were prepared.

This is a warning from the parable: Be sure that you are truly prepared, because it is possible to look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, walk with your Bible like a Christian, think of yourself as a Christian, yet, ultimately not be a Christian.   It is possible to know about Christ and not know Christ. It is possible to know the Bible and not be living for the God of the Bible. It is possible to be a nice person and know all the right doctrine, yet have no relationship with Christ.  It is possible to look like everyone else on the surface, while never allowing it to penetrate who you are and change the way you live.           All of the bridesmaids slept, and there is nothing wrong with that. Life goes on while we wait for the bridegroom who for us is Jesus. We work, we wait, and we sleep. The routine of life just keeps rolling on as we wait for the time when we will stand before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and they all drowned. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37-39).

We must stay focused and not get caught up in the routine of the world.  The world lives for pleasure and self. You must remember that even though you are living on earth right now the Bible says to those who are saved, we are really seated in heavenly places according to Ephesians 2:6.  God has called the righteous out from the world even though we are still living in the world to show those who are still worldly the way to holiness and righteousness.  You may ask well if I’m seated in heavenly places with Christ why is it that I’m still on the earth enduring trials, tribulations, suffering and pain? 

This earth is filled with sin so our present lifestyles reflect the results of sin.  Therefore we still have to deal with Satan and his distracters. That’s all trials and tribulations are distracters of Satan. He throws us curve balls every now and then in the attempt to throw us off and to get us frustrated and confused.  Remember Job.  First of all, Satan can’t do anything to you unless God gives him permission.  So if God allows it, there is a blessing in store for us is we remain faithful to God and preserve no matter what the situation looks like.

 To be seated in heavenly places with Christ is to enter an "inner rest." Our spirit and soul can be at rest because of what Christ has done for us, and because of the good plan God has for us. The promise of God's peace is not made to those who work and struggle in their own strength but to those who sit, rest, and abide in Christ.  We must get to the place when these distracters are sent our way that we lift our eyes to the hills from whence cometh our help.  No matter the situation, circumstance, doctors report, no matter what comes our way, all of our help comes from the Lord.  God has given us His Word that His grace is sufficient. 

Through the awesomeness of God’s Word and the blessed teaching of my pastor through Bible Study I’m learning to thank God for my trials and tribulations because they build my spiritual muscles.  You don’t get stronger when life is perfect and there is no chaos going on around you.  You don’t get stronger rejoicing on the mountain top.  But you build muscle in the valleys of life. 

          Muscle building requires force and resistance against the muscle.  Trials, tribulations, sickness, and pain don’t make us strong or else we’d all have overwhelming strength.  It’s what we do in the situation that determines strength or weakness.  Think for a moment in terms of weightlifting.  A weight lifter wants to develop his muscles, but he'll never reach that goal unless he lifts some weights. He certainly won't become strong if he just sits in a chair reading weight lifting books and thinking, "I'm going to be strong!"  When he lies on the workout bench, the 100 pound weight lying across his chest won't help his muscles gain strength unless he lifts up the weight and starts pushing it away from himself.   The same principle is true with our tests and trials. We must believe God's Word.  We won't be strong in faith unless we exercise our spiritual muscles.  Every time we seek out God’s Word to deal with our problems in the name of Jesus, we gain strength.  Strong faith only comes by exercising the faith you have against something that's contrary to the Word of God.  When you come out of the valley better and stronger that’s when we rejoice. We must become more confident in who we are in Christ Jesus.  

Some of the bridesmaids slept the sleep of slothfulness — others the sleep of peace and security, knowing they had prepared for the bridegroom’s coming. It is not that the foolish bridesmaids did not know that they needed oil, or that they forgot, it was a matter of foolish negligence and laziness. They overlooked their responsibility. They ignored what they knew to be important.  Don’t fail to be prepared. Don’t fail to be ready when Jesus comes.  Don’t neglect to have oil in your lamp.

Surrender, Repent, & Live Holy

Every human being born after Adam & Eve has been born in sin.  I don’t care how cute and precious that little baby is he or she was born in sin.  All sin, regardless of how it was committed or against whom has its root rebellion against God and is ultimately a sin committed against God.  As a consequence, repentance is required by God and confession to Him for the offense is necessary.

Thus, we can receive God’s gift of salvation when we surrender our will to His will.  We do this by first realizing that we have made a mess of our lives trying to rule and reign something we didn’t create and don’t even know how to control.  We relinquish our authority to His authority and our desires to His desires.  We resolve to be what God wants us to be and to do what God wants us to do.   Surrender!

We also must repent of our sin.  Repentance means I turn from sin, self, and Satan and I turn to God.  Repentance is not simply saying, "I'm sorry," because words are very cheap.  Repentance carries actions indicating that I have turned in the opposite direction from the sin committed.  So, if I’m not saved and I’m sleeping around and I hear the Word of the Lord and I repent of my sin and I’m truly sorrowful for that sin then I’m not going to keep sleeping around but rather I’m turning from that sin, from my selfish desires, and from the enticement of Satan and I becomes a new creation in Christ.   Before salvation, I held a grudge when someone hurt me.  But I repented, and I realize that God forgave me therefore I must forgive.  Now because I’m saved, I can turn the other cheek, release the grudge,  and forgive my offender.  Before Christ, when I heard the preacher preaching and the Word stepped on my toes, I’d got mad and wanted to know who told my business and considered leaving the church.  But I repented of my sin, I’m not out all night dancing, swinging, clinging, hiding, diving, & thriving.  Now when the Word comes forth I take it like a good medicine and it does me well and I’m growing in the Lord.    Before Christ you might have gotten drunk off the bottled and powdered spirits.  But you repented of your sin, so you don’t have to fight that battle of desire alone because the Holy Ghost is your helper and He will fight for you if you allow Him too. When you truly are rooted and grounded in God’s Word the Holy Ghost is the only high you need.  Before Christ you might have felt the need to hang out in the blue room at the video store or to catch a late night flick on the adult channels.  You might have even been known for sex-texting before it was given the name sex-ting.  But you repented of your sin and you turned from all that stuff to God and now Disney works just fine for you and you send scriptures on your phone instead of that garbage you used to send.  All can get free today if they choose to  repent and turn to God.  Amen!  Thank God for the Holy Ghost who is our helper and our keeper!  

  Now there is something wrong if your mouth says one thing but your living says another.  My suggestion is you better check yourself before you wreck yourself because the Lord does not have time to play games with you.  He says what he means and He means what He says.  Repent!

Following surrender & repentance comes living holy. The Bible has 66 books dedicated to teaching us how to relate vertically (that’s with God) and horizontally (that’s with mankind).   It’s either holiness or hell.  There is no such thing as straddling the fence you are either saved or you’re not.  You’re either being fathered by God or the Devil is your daddy.  Holiness has nothing to do with wearing a dress, pinning your hair up in a bun, or wearing no makeup.  Holiness is not looking saintly, being a person of good deeds, or achieving leadership in the church.  Holiness is a lifestyle.  Holiness is simply living as someone who belongs to God and who abides by Kingdom principles.  Holiness is to be set apart; to be called out; to be different for the service of God. 

Holiness is:

·        Telling the truth instead of lying

·       Speaking life instead of cursing folks out

·       Practicing celibacy instead of being promiscuous

·       Praying instead of gossiping

·       Having compassion on a stranger & not just folks you love

·       Choosing peace instead of fighting

·       Making your wants last and others needs first

·       Ordering water instead of a daiquiri or margarita

·       Tithing & offerings instead of scratching the lotto

·       Loving instead of hating

That’s holiness! 

The Wage of Sin is Death

Spiritual readiness, preparation and growth do not just happen. You cannot depend on a Sunday morning service to provide all your spiritual needs.  You cannot depend on fellowship to provide you with spiritual development. The first step in being ready comes through salvation.  Salvation is the deliverance from sin and its consequences.  Romans 6:23a tells us that “the wages of sin is death.”  A wage is a payment. Therefore the payment for sin is death. The justice of God, demands that a penalty for sin be paid. 

Sin puts mankind into a state of captivity from which a price must be paid in order that a person might be redeemed or purchased out of that state. The state of captivity, brought about by the sinful condition of mankind, is like a slave market where people are sold as the possession of the purchaser, and in order to be free, the slave must pay for a release or deliverance; this is a ransom. Mankind is "sold under sin" (Romans 7:14 says, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”) and therefore we fall under the judgment of God. The judgment has already been pronounced by God and the penalty is death, both physically and spiritually. The death of Jesus Christ is the ransom paid in order to redeem the human race from the penalty of sin. The ransom is paid to God, as a payment for the release of mankind from the penalty of their sinful state.  Jesus Christ in His death on the cross satisfies the justice of God and allows Him to forgive sinful human beings through His mercy and grace.  Therefore the only method of deliverance from sin can be found in the blood of Jesus.  The hymn writer penned it perfectly one day when he wrote, “What can wash away my sin, (then he answered it) nothing but the blood of Jesus.  What can make me whole again?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.   Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fountain I know,  nothing but the blood of Jesus.  For my pardon, this I see, nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my cleansing this my plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus.  Naught of good that I have done, nothing but the blood of Jesus.  This is all my hope and peace, nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness, nothing but the blood of Jesus.  Now by this I'll overcome- Nothing but the blood of Jesus, Now by this I'll reach my home- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  Glory! Glory! This I sing- Nothing but the blood of Jesus, All my praise for this I bring- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.   The Wage of Sin is death but gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ.

Are You Ready to Go?

      The superintendent of a large Christian school was concerned about the disarray he found in so many of the classrooms he visited. Papers were often strewn on the floor, and the students’ desks were surrounded by clutter.  Feeling strongly that learning could not take place in such an untidy environment, he decided to take action.  He chose one classroom for an experiment, he introduced himself to the students and with a smile made this proposition: "Your teacher, principal and I provide a well-equipped classroom for you to enjoy with all the supplies you need to achieve learning but we need your help in keeping your desks and the classroom orderly. Many of you have crumpled papers inside your desks with books left open and the pages bent. Often there are pencils on the floor under your desks along with other debris.
       "I would like each of you to clean out your desk today and begin this school year resolving to keep it clean. One day I will return and inspect your desks and the person with the neatest desk will be given this $100 bill. I won’t tell you which day it will be. It will be a surprise. Not even your teacher or the principal will know the day."  The children squealed with excitement and began immediately pulling things from their desks, filling the trash baskets with crumpled papers, stacking their books neatly inside their desks, and neatly lining up their pencils and pens.
        Every morning for the first week, every student checked his or her desk to make sure it was in perfect condition, confident that today would be the day the superintendent returned.  The next week, a few boys grew weary of the exercise and returned to their former habits.  By the third week, several students remarked, "I doubt if he’ll come back at all. He just said that to make us keep our desks clean."
        After two months, no one in the classrooms bothered to inspect their desks and in fact, forgot the superintendent’s promise, except for one girl.  Dutifully, she inspected her desk every morning and several times a day, making sure things were in proper order.
         For months, she was teased by the other students. "He’s not coming back! Why do you keep looking for him? You look stupid believing that promise, anyway."  Still, she remained quiet, kept her desk in perfect condition and waited.  Near the end of the school year, there was a knock on the door and the superintendent entered.
        Quickly, the students flung open their desks and began frantically to clean them. But the superintendent held up his hand for them to stop. All the students were asked to stand beside their desk at attention while the superintendent inspected each desk.  One after another, he rejected them for being unkempt. One boy tried giving excuses but to no avail. Another blamed the teacher for not reminding them. Still another blamed the superintendent for making them wait so long.
         Finally, the superintendent arrived at the desk of the little girl who confidently displayed her well-kept desk while beaming at the superintendent.  After inspecting her desk, he took her by the hand to the front of the classroom and awarded her the $100 bill.  "Boys and girls," he said kindly, "this girl never stopped believing I would return so she kept her desk in perfect order. She didn’t need to worry about what day or even what time of day I would arrive because she was always ready. Always!

Many in the body of Christ are just as unprepared for  Jesus’ return, as this class was for the superintendent’s visit.  Some of us have lived cluttered lives so long that we’ve failed to realize what a mess we are living in.  Jesus sent me here today to compel you to get ready, get ready, get ready because He’s on His way back and He’s looking for individuals who are living according to His Word.