"Ready."

 •  8 min. read  •  grade level: 6
“Ready to Perish.”
A SINNER needs a Saviour. All have sinned, and therefore all need a Saviour. No sinner can save himself; therefore needs to be saved by another. No fellow-man of Adam’s race can save him, because all others are sinners too. Who then can save? Christ Jesus only. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). “This is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:4242And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42)). And when is the time for a sinner to be saved? Now! (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).
But how many have never felt their need of this precious Savior. Why is this? Because they have never bowed to and believed God’s word as to their condition as sinners, in danger of perishing everlastingly (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23); Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)). Now in Deuteronomy 26:55And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: (Deuteronomy 26:5), we read of the language to be used by a Jew when he brought his basket of firstfruits to the priest to offer to the Lord; he was to say before the Lord his God, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father,” etc. He owned that he was of a race descended from one who was ready to perish. This describes most fitly the natural condition of all men; we belong to a race of sinners who are ready to perish. God is infinitely holy (Isa. 57:1515For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)), and cannot suffer sin in His presence: all have sinned, and are liable at any moment to suffer the penalty of sin, death; and all who die in their sins perish everlastingly (Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)). Thus, my reader, if you are still unconverted, you are a sinner ready to perish. Do you believe that this is indeed true? If you do, how precious read of God, who is
“Ready to Pardon,”
“gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Neh. 9:1717And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. (Nehemiah 9:17)), “good, and ready to forgive” (Psa. 86:55For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalm 86:5)). Yes, poor sinner, although you are ready to perish on account of your sins, God is ready to pardon, ready to forgive, all your sins, that you should not perish, because His only begotten Son died as the sin-bearer on the cross (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). And God is ready to pardon now; not at some future time not when you have turned over a new leaf, not when you have wrought out a righteousness of your own, not at the day of judgment, but now, today, this moment, God is ready to pardon you. Are you ready to be pardoned? Not some of your sins, but all your sins―all your scarlet, crimson sins. God is ready to forgive all. “Through this man (Christ Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)).
But you will say, “How am I to know my sins are forgiven?” By simple faith, by believing. For “by Him all that believe are justified from all, things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)). The Scripture says of all who believe, “Little children, your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)).
And not only is God ready to pardon, but He is also
“Ready to Save.”
Ready to save you from your sins, ready to save you from the world, ready to save you from the power of Satan, ready to save you from judgment, ready to save you from perishing, ready to save you for the glory, ready to save you forever and forever. Are you ready to be saved? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Note the words of Hezekiah “For the grave cannot praise thee; death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The Lord was ready to save me” (Isa. 38:18-2018For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. 19The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. 20The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord. (Isaiah 38:18‑20)). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:8-98But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:8‑9)). And the power of God will keep you “through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:55Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5)).
And, moreover, God does not stop here, for not only is He ready to pardon, ready to forgive, ready to save all who are ready to perish, but, as we read in the parable of the marriage of the King’s son in Matthew 22,
“All Things Are Ready.”
Yes, dear reader, all things are ready; fullest provision made for the need of every poor sinner. The wedding is ready; the invitation has gone forth to the Jews, and they have made light of it, and gone their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise. The invitation comes now to the Gentiles, comes to all, comes to you; they that were bidden were not worthy; will you accept the invitation, will you come? “All things are ready: come” (Matt. 22:4-94Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. (Matthew 22:4‑9).) Christ has died and is risen again; the work is finished, God is glorified, and the feast is spread―a feast of “fat things” and “wines on the lees” (Isa. 25:66And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. (Isaiah 25:6)). The wedding is ready; God bids you―will you come? Or will you go your way; will you go to the farm or the merchandise, and despise the blessed invitations of the Gospel? Think of the fearful consequences of such a course, for the same Saviour God that is ready to save, is also
“Ready to Judge the Quick and the Dead,”
“who shall give account to him” (1 Peter 4:55Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5)). “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2:55For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. (Hebrews 2:5).) To make light of the gladsome message of grace is to ensure judgment, to treasure up “wrath against the day of wrath” (Rom. 2:55But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:5)). Grace, boundless grace, is reigning triumphant now through righteousness (Rom. 5:20-2120Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20‑21)), but soon judgment will come, “For God hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)). “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:4040Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12:40)). “The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days... he believeth not that he shall return out of darkness... he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand” (Job 15:29-23).
But where will those be at that day who, as poor sinners ready to perish, have come now to the blessed God who is ready to save? Ah! no judgment for them. God judged His own Son in their stead (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24); 1 Thess. 5:2-52For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:2‑5)); and before that day of judgment upon the ungodly cometh, the Savior, the Lord Himself, the Bridegroom shall come―come for His own, come to take us to everlasting glory (1 Thess. 4:15-1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18)). And what will He find at that moment? Thousands who profess His name, thousands with a lamp of profession, but no oil; but thousands more who have oil in their vessels with their lamps, thousands who have truly believed, and have received the Holy Ghost, who have gone to God ready to pardon and save, and are pardoned, and are saved (Matt. 25:1-131Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1‑13); Rom. 4:7-87Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:7‑8); Eph. 2:55Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)); and then, oh! wondrous moment,
“They That Were Ready Went in”
with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut. They that were ready, mark that, dear reader; not they that were getting ready, but they that were ready, went in with Him. With whom? With Him; with Christ, the Saviour, the Lord Himself―the precious, precious Jesus; and the door was shut―shut close, shut fast, shut forever on all who were called but refused (Prov. 1:2424Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (Proverbs 1:24)). In vain shall many cry then, saving, “Lord, Lord, open to us.” “I know you not,” will be the awful reply; “I know you not” (Matt. 25:11-1211Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:11‑12)). “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)).
And what is the conduct that becomes all who have received pardon and salvation, as we pass along down in this sinful world, sheltered by the blood of Christ, and waiting for the glory? “Put them in mind,” says the apostle (Titus 3:11Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (Titus 3:1)), “to be
“Ready to Every Good Work.”
And He that saith, “Behold, I come quickly,” has also said, “And my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:1212And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)).
“Watching and ready may we be
As those that wait their Lord to see.”
E. H. C.
March, 1877.