Are You Ready?

The Passover pictures and calls us to remember many things, redemption from the bondage of slavery, the sacrifice of the lamb of God [Jesus Christ] as the payment of the death penalty we earned through our sin. Self-examination, covenant renewal, baptism into the death of Christ... there is so much to cover at this important time of the year.

There is yet another message embedded in the spring holy days which we don't often dwell upon. A message that is especially relevant to us in light of the national and global  meltdown over the COVID 19 virus. That message [which I am going cover today] is haste.

In the past few weeks  we have seen life on the entire planet turned upside down. It happened very quickly. One week we were living the life of Riley, watching our retirement investments grow, planning weddings, graduation ceremonies, looking forward to the spring holy days... the next week we woke up to a world shutting down border crossings, stopping travel, ordering citizens to stay in their homes, closing businesses, schools etc.

A lesson you should get from this global calamity is: to realize through experience how easily, and how quickly EVERYTHING can change. Over the years many of us have said things like "yup, things can change quickly... and we have to be prepared for that before Christ returns"... but now I think many of us  born after WW2 have seen it actually happen. The entire world can turn very quickly indeed.

This present distress will most likely pass and things return "normal", although with a slightly modified sense of what defines "normal". But looking ahead there are prophesied changes coming before Christ’s return. Changes which will also come quickly... but after THESE changes there will be no return to "normal".  Jesus Christ, your lord, master, head of the church, future bridegroom... wants you to prepare now for that time.

Preparing For The Passover

In season and out, God's repeatedly tells His people they are to be prepared, alert, clear headed, to think and act in manner that is ready for everything to change without much warning. This is part of the Passover message as well.

Exodus 12:11-13  Israel was instructed to eat the Passover meal "in haste", prepared to flee Egypt. We understand this to prefigure our departure from the bondage of sin.

Exodus 12:29-35 their departure happened quickly... in the dead of night Pharaoh sent word to Moses saying... get out... NOW!

1 Corinthians 11:27-28 The message of preparation is also part of the new covenant Passover. Paul told his congregation in Corinth to prepare themselves for the Passover and keep it in a worthy manner.

Specifically, Paul's concern as pastor was that they were more concerned with their social pecking order than the seriousness and sacredness of the occasion and the unity of the church. Most years we do not have a clear situation that calls for this specific outlook. Our default in most years is to direct believers to examine their lives with regard to their sins, their attitude of repentance, and reaffirm their need for God's gracious forgiveness.

This year I would like each of us to add to our list of self examination priorities with this question: Am I ready? Am I preparing? Can I face fast paced, dramatic changes to my life, my circumstances, with confidence, righteousness, and perseverance in the truth?

If not, why not? ... and ... If not, what is my plan of action to get ready?

Responding To Suffering, Trouble, and Adversity

God sent Moses back to Egypt after 40 years to act as His agent in delivering Israel from their bondage. Moses went back, he gathered the leaders of the people and told them about God's plan. Then Moses went as instructed to tell Pharaoh God wanted His people to be allowed to leave Egypt.

Pharaoh's response was to make their hard labor even harder... they would still have to deliver their daily quota of bricks but they would have to also go out and collect the straw needed to make the bricks. The leaders of Israel then complained to Moses Exodus 5:20-21.

Moses then went over the plan again Exodus 6:6-12. But he was having a hard time getting the Israelites to respond with confidence and anticipation of deliverance.

Lesson: faith and optimism are harder to maintain when faced with hardship, suffering, anxiety and doubt. We might interpret hardship or persecution as a sign that God is not with us, or that He has lost control of the situation. However, His word, and especially the teachings of Jesus tell us to expect suffering, hardship, difficulty. We are to be mentally prepared... ahead of time... for all sorts of troubles.

What happens next in the timeline of Israel's exodus from Egypt is a series of horrific plagues, the Nile river turns to blood, frogs, flies, plague, burning hail, locusts. In a very short time Egypt [the mightiest nation on earth at the time] was turned upside down. Everything had changed in a matter of weeks. Their economy was destroyed... everyone was anxious, panicked and afraid.

The final blow to Egypt was the plague upon the firstborn of every household. That night before the death  angel passed over the nation Israel kept the Passover in their homes... with their suitcases packed, staff in hand, travelling shoes on their feet.

They killed and ate a lamb and painted its blood on their doorposts to protect them from plague on the first born... the body of lamb and its blood were prophetic symbols of future sacrifice and blood of Jesus. Israel also ate unleavened bread at that Passover.... we eat that bread today as a reminder of our need to live a life that does not have the leaven of sin, and pride in it. That we are humble enough to accept and do God's will.

The bread is also a reminder of haste!

Deuteronomy 16:3 forty years after the events in Egypt they were told to eat the bread as a reminder of the haste of their departure. They did not have time to prepare their usual leavened bread… all they had time for was a hasty loaf of unleavened bread. That reminder of haste, preparation, and rapidly changing circumstances is relevant for the new covenant Passover as well.

For the disciples... around sunset they ate the Passover with Jesus... never expecting that within a few short hours Jesus would be arrested, tried, brutally whipped within an inch of His life, and then publicly executed. Their whole world outlook changed... EVERYTHING changed... within less than 24 hours.

Jesus had warned them in advance... but they were not able to connect the dots... they were swept up in the moment... they were frightened... they were confused... they panicked… they ran... they deserted Him.

Jesus had told them they would respond this way. He also knew why they failed so miserably: because they lacked the active power of the holy spirit which would only come upon them after He returned to the Father.  But such is not so with you... you who have believed and are baptized  have the active power of God's spirit in you... and if you are using that spirit, working with and submitting yourself to that spirit you will not be found unprepared.

Matthew 24:36-42 when the calamities surrounding Christ's return happen most people will be oblivious to what is happening... some will die... some will not.

Matthew 24:42-44 but you are expected to be alert, watchful and not slacking off.

Three Scenarios For Slackers

1. Scenario 1 - the master comes back sooner than expected and finds his servants behaving badly.
2. Scenario 2 - the master comes back later than expected and some of his servants are sleeping and unprepared.
3. Scenario 3 - the master comes back after a long time to find some of his servants have done nothing because they thought the assignment was too hard.

As you examine yourself this Passover please consider these warnings from Jesus Christ about the importance of being prepared... and the attitude of being prepared. This year let us all partake of the Passover with a sense of HASTE, or urgency, to make the most of the time, and prepare for what lays ahead as if it were tomorrow.

Matthew 24:45-51 the wicked servant says "we've got a long time to wait before Christ comes back"... "I've got a long time line in which to repent and change"... "I'll put off all that hard overcoming stuff for tomorrow".... then he is surprised because he does not have as much time as he expected. The master comes back before expected and THE SERVANT IS UNPREPARED.

Matthew 25:1-13 the foolish virgin says "Christ is sure taking an awfully long time"... "I'm getting so tired and worn out from all this overcoming"... "I know I should probably be stirring up the spirit and fanning it into flame... but my eyelids are so heavy... maybe I'll take a little nap"... then whammo, SHE IS CAUGHT UNPREPARED.

Matthew 25:14-18 [paraphrase] in this parable the master gives three different servants deposits of money: two used what they are given to create profit while the third does nothing.

Verse 19 notice that all three parables that follow Christ's prophecy of His return are tied together with this key phrase… “after a long time”.

Verses 20-23 the servants who created growth with the investment were rewarded accordingly... but then the servant who did nothing was asked to give account.

Matthew 25:24-30 the "do nothing" servant was paralyzed by fear... "it's too hard... God is so demanding... I'll never live up to His standard of righteousness... so why even try''. To which the master says, why didn't you at least try... at the minimum you could have put the money in the bank and get a little interest... it wouldn't have been much... and your reward would have been small... but that would be better than nothing.

Don’t overestimate the effort required -- Don’t underestimate the effort required

The foolish virgin thought the task of preparation was so easy she didn't think she needed to put that much effort into preparation… so she takes a break and naps. The word foolish is moros = stupid, dimwit. She did not think clearly about what was required and the effort needed.

The servant who did nothing was called both wicked, and lazy. He thought the task of preparation was so hard there was no point in trying. He did not understand that while God wants good outcomes... He especially appreciates effort and attitude. Errors and sins you commit while you are still maturing and growing in putting on the mind of Christ can be dealt with through His sacrifice for sin.

However, Christ’s sacrifice for sin is not intended for people who make zero effort.

3 Scenarios For Self Examination

1. Are you are putting off making the necessary changes in your life thinking you’ve got time to get around to it later? if so, then commit yourself to acting quickly. Take this Passover with a sense of HASTE... urgency to change.
2. Are you growing weary of doing good? Are you underestimating the importance of showing forth the fruits of the spirit in your life? Are you underestimating the effort required to be adequately prepared. Take this Passover with a sense of HASTE... wake up & do what is needed to fan into flame the burning embers of the spirit that has been put within you.
3. Are you letting your recurring sins and lapses cause you to think all effort is hopeless? If so commit yourself to at least showing a good effort which God will appreciate [probably more than you think]. Come under Christ’s blood so your faults and sins may be passed over… then persevere, make the effort, repent, and change. Take this Passover with a sense of HASTE... ready to follow the lead of the spirit even when it seems hard or hopeless.

Exodus 12:11 / 1 Corinthians 11:27-28

If you prepare yourself for the Passover in this way... you will also be prepared for anything this world can throw at you. Everything in your world can change overnight. Be prepared and you will have no need to be afraid.