When I was a kid we played a game called 1-2-3 Red Light. In this game, the captain would stand at the finish line, and all of the other players would stand side by side at the starting point. The goal of the game was to be the first one to get to the captain while the “light” was green. So the captain would turn his back to the players and start counting…”1….2….3….” While the captain’s back was turned all of the players tried as fast as they could to race to the finish line, then, all of a sudden, the captain would quickly turnaround and yell “RED LIGHT!” When he yelled red light, all of the players had to freeze in whatever position they were in. If the captain caught someone moving, he would send them back to the starting point. Those were fun times.
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” – Revelations 22:11, 12.
In some ways this scripture is a lot like that childhood game we played. God is the captain and we are the players. There is a spiritual clock counting down, and when time is up, God is going to send his son Jesus back to earth to rapture up his saints. I Corinthians 15:52 says “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” When Christ comes back he’s going to come back so quick, that when that trumpet blows, whatever state you’re in (sinner or saint) is how you’ll have to “freeze” because you won’t have time to get it right. This thing is almost over! God can yell “RED LIGHT” at any moment. If you are saved, stay saved. Now is not the time to turn your back on God. Now is not the time to give up and go back. If you are not saved, what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t it make sense to get right so that you’re ready when the trumpet sounds?
Now I’m speaking about the rapture, but there are some of us that won’t live to see the rapture. Some of us will die before the rapture ever takes place, and whatever spiritual state you’re in when God calls your number, that’s the state you’ll be in for eternity. The countdown has already begun. WAKE UP!! You don’t know the day or the hour when the “Captain” is going to yell “Red Light”. So it would be in your best interest to prepare now so you won’t be sorry later.
It’s amazing how we can prepare for everything else, but we won’t prepare for God. We put off that decision for later. We always say ‘Not Today’ or ‘I’m not ready’. Well, my question to you is “When are you going to get ready? When will be a good day?” We get car insurance, just in case we get into a car accident. We get insurance on our house just in case something happens. We save up a rainy day fund just in case an emergency comes up. We hear the meteorologist say there may be a chance of rain, so what do we do? We bring an umbrella, just in case. What about your soul? Have you made preparations for your soul, just in case? It would be foolish to buy a car, drive off the lot and say “I’m just not ready to get car insurance?” It’s just as foolish to be offered eternal life and refuse it because you’re not ready! You hear the preacher tell you every Sunday that Jesus Christ is coming back soon. You even notice the signs that the Bible has spoken about that will take place before Christ returns, but have you done anything about it? Now is the time to make a decision. Trying to get car insurance AFTER the car wreck does you no good. Waiting too late to get your soul right with God, will send you to hell. Don’t be foolish. Get it together while you have an opportunity. Don’t gamble with your soul. Every day you wake up could be your last day, but you keep taking chances and gambling with your soul. Then God blesses you to see another day and you figure, oh, I think I’ll try it again. You’ve done this so much you’ve become addicted to gambling with your soul. But I’m here to warn you that gambling with your soul is a dangerous thing. This could be the last chance God is giving you to get it right. This could be your last opportunity to make the decision to live for God. Don’t wait! Don’t wait! Don’t you dare wait! The Bible says the day you hear his voice harden not your heart.
If you have not given your heart to God, or if you know you’ve slacked up and need to renew your relationship with God now is a good time. Tell God that you’re sorry for your sins. Ask God to come into your heart and forgive you of everything that you’ve done that was not like Him. Ask God to save you and to fill you with His precious Holy Ghost. If you’ve prayed this prayer make sure you get into a church that believes and teaches the true unadulterated Word of God. If you’re in the Dallas area, I invite you to come to one of our services so that you can be fed the true Word of God and so that you can grow in God. If you’re not in the Dallas area, we stream our services live every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Saturday night (http://www.youtube.com/fullgospelbroadcast). Be sure to tune in so that you can also be fed and grow in God.
Because when time is up, whether by death or rapture, the state that you’re found in will be the state that you’ll stay.