All Things Are ReadyBut Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17).The potentate of an Arabian kingdom was stunned by a group of Westernmissionaries he had invited to a feast. The sultan wanted to know why thesebelievers in Jesus Christ had abandoned their prosperous society back home tocome to the desert. They were building missionary schools, roads and healthcenters for his people. In the process, these Christians exposed themselves toinfections that sometimes proved fatal. He asked if they did all these in orderto secure a place in heaven. “No,” was the answer that jolted the Arabian ruler.“We are doing all these to show our appreciation to our Lord Jesus Christ whodied for our salvation. He has earned heaven for us through His sacrificialdeath on the cross at Calvary. And He says we must go and preach to allcreatures about the salvation He has brought, so that no one would perish insin. We obey that commandment as His faithful servants…. Our works can’t earn usheaven; only faith in Him, repentance from sin and obedience to what He says”.This is a thorough understanding of the salvation plan of God. Everything weneed to enter into the Kingdom of heaven hereafter was provided by Jesus Christwhen He was crucified. No act of man could do it. It is for him to submit to theconditions needed for the appropriation of the benefits of Calvary. Weappreciate God for Calvary when we obey and have faith in Him. We honour Himwhen we resist temptation and shun sin. We put Satan and his agents to shamewhen we preach Christ to sinners who are under the yoke of the powers ofdarkness. The genuine Christian knows that Jesus has made all “things …ready”for him in heaven. So, like the missionaries in Arabia, today’s believer mustappreciate God for making heaven ready for Him by going to the uttermost partsof the world to preach Jesus.

Thought for the day: There is ‘a woe’ awaiting believers who refuse to preachthe gospel.Bible Reading in one Year: 1 KINGS 9 - 10

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