"ALWAYS, Be Prepared!"

“ALWAYS, Be Prepared!”

 

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed in their slander.          1 Peter 3:15-16

 

As a TRUE BELIEVER or a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD, which ever term you prefer, we should ALWAYS, REVERE Jesus Christ as LORD.  Which means that we hold Him in DEEP RESPECT, LOVE, AWE and HONOR.  When we are in FEAR and DISTRESS, we can say:  “The Lord is my STRENGTH, whom shall I FEAR.” 

 

And we SHOULD ALWAYS be PREPARED to give an answer to EVERYONE who asks us for the REASON of the HOPE that is in us.  When we come to Christ for the SALVATION of our souls, we NEED to SANCTIFY or “set apart” ourselves from this WRETCHED, SIN-LADEN, EVIL, CORRUPT, and DEPRAVED world, and COMMIT ourselves to being OBEDIENT to the LIFE lived in the SPIRIT, and NOT continue to live a LIFE that is lived in the FLESH.  A TRUE BELIEVER’S WALK should match their TALK.   Their ORAL TESTIMONY should be CONSISTENT with their “set apart” lifestyle.

 

Their TESTIMONY should be given with GENTLENESS and RESPECT.  And NOT given with an ARROGANT attitude.  Those who have NO FEAR in the face of PERSECUTION, are able to TESTIFY RESPECTFULLY and with DIGINITY of their HOPE in their FAITH in Jesus Christ.  Then they will be able to have a CLEAR CONSCIENCE, and those who speak with MALICE against, the TRUE BELIEVER’S TESTIMONY and GOOD BEHAVIOR in Christ, will be ASHAMED of their SLANDER.  

 

The Apostle Peter is ENCOURAGING his readers, with the mind-set that GOOD BEHAVIOR is the BEST DEFENSE against UNJUST PUNISHMENT and PERSECUTION.  Is your HOPE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST?  If NOT you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  This is NOT a SCARE TACTIC, but it is the TRUTH of the matter.  Without HOPE in Christ Jesus you will end up spending your ETERNITY in HELL.  Unless, you TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ALWAYS BE PREPARED to SHARE of your HOPE in CHRIST, and of your ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!