Are You Ready?

Alright, now, Buttercup, come on over here and step right on up here on this here front porch ‘a-makin’ sure you sho’-nuff’ done git to settlin’ yourself in real good like an ol’ hound dog ‘a-tryin’ to claim the only shady spot under that there pecan tree right over yonder. We’re ‘bout to be ‘a-wanderin’ into a truth more serious than a turkey ‘a-realizin’ Thanksgiving dinner is ‘a-happenin’ tomorrow. Romans 10:9 done says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” And Jesus done reminds us in John 14:6 that He is the only way. That there is the Bible’s way of ‘a-sayin’ salvation ain’t a buffet line where you pick what food done tickles your fancy. It’s ‘a-meanin’ that we gotta be ‘a-pickin’ Jesus or there ain’t nothin’, absolutely nothin’.

Now Buttercup, let me be ‘a-askin’ you somethin’. If Jesus’d done be ‘a-comin’ here today, are you done ready for Him? Not one o’ those, “I took communion last month” ready. Not “I grew up in Sunday School” ready. Not “I got sprinkled, dunked, and dried off” ready. I mean, is you really done Bible ready? Matthew 7:21 warns us that not everyone who hollers “Lord, Lord” is gettin’ in. Some folks be ‘a-talkin’ a real big game, but their hearts are doggone emptier than a feed bucket after a goat gets loose an’ in the feed.

You ain’t ready ‘cause you done joined a church. You ain’t ready ‘cause you done behaved yourself for a week and a half. Friend, you’re done ready when that there moment of time came that you done was ‘a-feelin’ the heavy weight of your sin ‘a-sittin’ on your chest like a fat raccoon on a flimsy, rottenin’ fence. A moment when you knew you were separated from God. A real special  moment when you done fell at the feet of Jesus ‘a-sayin’, “Lord, I need You.” When you done asked Him to forgive you, cleanse you, and take over the whole house, not just only the front porch.

If you have had one o’ them there real special moments like that there, Buttercup, you are ready. If you ain’t had that, well, right here, right now is a mighty fine time to git it done real good.

Father, I’m ‘a-comin’ an’ ‘a-standin’ before You ‘a-knowin’ I can’t be ‘a-savin’ myself. Be ‘a-forgivin’ my sin, be ‘a-cleanin’ my heart, and be ‘a-takin’ charge of my life. Help me be ‘a-walkin’ with You every single day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, Buttercup, as you done git to takin’ your steps off’n this here front porch today so’s you can be ‘a-gittin right back into your day, be ‘a-recallin’ that eternity is forever longer than a real hot summer day without any air conditionin’. Salvation ain’t no guesswork. It sho’-nuff’ ain’t no tradition. It’s Jesus, jes’ Jesus. You gotta be ‘a-makin’ sure your heart is real anchored right in Him, your faith’s planted real deep an’ firm, and your eternity is done settled tighter than a tick on a hound dog. Sho’-nuff, are you done ready? Don’t you be ‘a-leftin’ yourself be behind without the Lord!

With joy,

Gwen