| Author | Message | ||
| Mommyk Registered user Username: Mommyk Post Number: 292 Registered: 4-2007  |
I already know the answer to this question, but I'd like to hear all your thoughts as well. SDAs are always saying "I want to be ready when Jesus comes." or "I pray we are all ready for the second coming." What do they mean? How does one "get ready" for Jesus to come? Do other denominations ask the same question of believers as well as unbelievers? Your thoughts, please!! ~Kristen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7695 Registered: 3-2004  |
The pastors at my church have never asked that. We know as Christians that when we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour that we are saved. As for SDAs they do not have that assurance and they do not know when their name is coming up in the IJ, so they do not have this possitive hope and assurance. Diana L | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5718 Registered: 9-2006  |
Some denoms do say, "I want to be ready when Jesus returns. This is taken from Matt:24:36-46, Matt:25-1-13, and possibly more, one that I dimly remember, but don't remember where it is. I have always asked the same question you did, how does one "get ready". I think mostly this is asked by denoms who say that we can lose our salvation, you know the kind, they get saved twenty or thirty times a week. pardon my sarcasm Kristen. Maybe carry around beads and become bead counters? Maybe the Catlicks got a good thing goin' after all? River | ||
| Martin Registered user Username: Martin Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2008 |
If you think it coldly, that's the way of speaking of somebody who is not completely certain of something and who thinks that it is necessary to work hard to reach certain points before that "something" happens. "I want to be ready before the snow comes" I come from a pretty warm place, where it never snows  But I can imagine that if you know that the winters are cold and it usually snows abundantly, then you need to get ready before it starts snowing. Nobody is going to do it for you so you better get ready before the winter and before all the stuff in the supermarket is gone! "I pray we are all ready for leaving tomorrow in the morning" Same thing. The whole family will leave on holidays in the morning, and somehow you doubt that everybody will have all their luggage ready early the following day. If you pray for everybody to be ready it's because you doubt about your own or somebody else's capabilities and timing to be ready. The "I want to be ready..." expression denotes, in my opinion, a feeling that you are still lacking something to be ready, not yet "there". You still need to grow, work hard on those ugly issues, and develop a Godly character. Or even "let God work on that" before you can be ready... But, the problem is, how do you know when you're ready? There's no clear sign telling you "Done!". And the indication of what "Being ready" could mean is a quite tough list of rules (i.e. The Law)... To make it worse, the list of rules says that if you fail only one, you're failing the whole batch! On the other hand, the "I pray we are all ready..." expression indicates a few things: what has been described above and, also, nagging doubts that everybody else will be ready too. Of course you don't want anybody you love to lose their participation in the "big event" but, in my opinion, it also indicates a feeling that the failure of someone to be ready will in the end affect everybody else negatively. You know, if little Timmy is late with his luggage it will delay the whole family's holiday trip. Now, I can not remember how many times I've heard SDA people saying that if we were ready, Jesus would have already come back... Those who are not yet "there" are basically delaying His return! Not a nice position to be in, to tell the truth. | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 595 Registered: 7-2004 |
Here's an old tape that started playing when I read this thread.... "Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you faithful in all that you do?(no mustard or pepper) Have you fought the good fight? Have you stood for the right?(keep Sabbath holy) Can others see Jesus in you? I think the sda'ers will recognize that song. I don't even like that song, hopefully I can get the melody out of my head!!! I can't remember the rest of the words. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 7697 Registered: 3-2004 |
Haven't seen that song since before I was put out of the church. I have to agree with your comments. I have learned that a positive and a negative thought cannot be in the mind at the same time. When that song pops up start singing your favorite Christian song out loud, if possible. That will stop the running of the old tape. Diana L | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 704 Registered: 7-2008  |
In my opinion.... If you are born again, you are ready for Jesus to come. Just my opinion.... Animal | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10617 Registered: 12-2003  |
Oooh, Animal--dangerous words!!! Ha! You're right. Jesus said the requirement for seeing the kingdom of heaven is to be born again (John 3:3-5). Adventists believe they fall out of salvation every time they sin, and repeated sins are especially upsetting. They have to be keeping the Sabbath and living up to all the light they have in order to be ready for heaven. Getting ready to them means continuing on that upward path of gradual improvement and doing the stuff their Ellen White interpretations of the Bible compel them to do. It has nothing to do with being born again. Colleen | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 809 Registered: 1-2003  |
Here are all the lyrics: Are You Ready For Jesus To Come Verse 1: The theme of the Bible is Jesus, And how he died to save men. The plan of salvation assures us, He's coming back again. Chorus: Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you faithful in all that you do? Have you fought a good fight; Have you stood for the right: Have others seen Jesus in you. Are you ready to stand in your place? Are you ready to look in his face? Can you look up and say, "This is my God!" Are you ready for Jesus to come? Verse 2: Don't cling to the world and it's treasure, This earth will soon pass away. O give him your love without measure, He's calling you today. Chorus: Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you faithful in all that you do? Have you fought a good fight; Have you stood for the right; Have others seen Jesus in you. Are you ready to stand in your place? Are you ready to look in his face? Can you look up and say, "This is my God!" Are you ready for Jesus… Are you ready for Jesus… Are you ready for Jesus to come? | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 730 Registered: 3-2009 |
I remember that song. But I'm confused. Could you tell me where is the song wrong? Hec | ||
| Surfy Registered user Username: Surfy Post Number: 600 Registered: 11-2007 |
A few Biblical examples: The 10 virgins, 5 of which did not have oil in their lamps. They were not ready. The caretaker of the vinyard. He was not ready when the owner of the vinyard showed up unexpectedly. I would say there is something to this being ready thing but notice I wrote "being ready". Big difference between being ready and hoping I am ready or praying that I am ready. The assurance of salvation is a wonderful thing. Surfy | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 596 Registered: 7-2004 |
The song is not wrong, it's just one of those old songs that I remember as an adventist, and some of the phrases fit some of the attitudes. I shouldn't criticize it because it really has some beautiful words now that I look at all the words. Being "ready" as an adventist meant being perfect, and when you heard the words with that attitude, you felt unworthy and unready! Remember, as an adventist, it's not all about Jesus, it's about if you can measure up. | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 632 Registered: 8-2008 |
Hec, the song implies that in order to be accepted by God into heaven, a person must fight the good fight and stand for the right. It says a person must be faithful in all that they do, in order to be accepted by God. No one is faithful in all that they do. No one has always fought the good fight. No one has always stood up for right. That is why Jesus had to die for us. The Bible says, "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Rom. 3:10). That song makes no mention of the perfect work of Christ on the cross and in the resurrection, which alone can reconcile us to God. Thus, the song leaves the singer standing on the foundation of his or her performance in order to be ready for the second coming. The death and resurrection alone have made us ready for His return. (Message edited by bskillet on November 09, 2009) | ||
| Angelcat Registered user Username: Angelcat Post Number: 138 Registered: 11-2008 |
I had that song going thru my head as soon as I read the op. So,I'm listening to this now: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/a/nailed2c.htm | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 733 Registered: 3-2009 |
I guess that if one sees the first question, "Are you ready for Jesus to come?" as answered by the following questions, then the song is all wrong. It's anti-gospel. Angelcat, For sure "Nailed to the Cross" beats "Are you ready for Jesus to come" by miles. Hec | ||
| Martin Registered user Username: Martin Post Number: 103 Registered: 11-2008 |
Uh, I just read the whole lyrics... Do you know what is the first thing that came to my mind as I was reading? That it mainly focuses on "you". Are you...? Can you...? Have you...? Have others... in you? And that expression in verse 1, "the plan of salvation", brings back old memories. I can't remember if I've ever heard it said in the church I'm attending now. Are you ready to stand in your place? I know my Master will make me stand. Are you ready to look in his face? Well, I looked in Jesus' face and I know that, in Him, I'm looking in my God's face. I would sincerely prefer to sing "Be Thou My Vision" http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/eire/bethoumy.htm | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 599 Registered: 7-2004 |
Actually in reading the lyrics again, the verses 1&2 are the Gospel, with the Chorus being sda, just like the whole sda system!! A little bit of good news, and then back to focus on YOU!! Yes, Martin, "Be Thou My Vision" is a MUCH better message! | ||
| Seekinglight Registered user Username: Seekinglight Post Number: 467 Registered: 3-2009 |
Ugh, it's probably just another one of those songs written during the Charles Finney era. There are so many songs like that, and Christians sing them without a thought. On this forum we pick on SDAs a lot, but these ideas of legalism and that we have to prove our love to Jesus by behaving a certain way are rampant in American Christianity. | ||
| Believer247 Registered user Username: Believer247 Post Number: 72 Registered: 3-2009 |
The hymns "The Cleansing Wave", "Standing on the Promises", and "My Hope is built On Nothing Less than Jesus' Blood & Righteousness" have whole different meanings to me today than when I was sda. I was church pianist for many years and these were always some of my favorite hymns anyway but now they are even real and I understand what they really mean. | ||
| Believer247 Registered user Username: Believer247 Post Number: 73 Registered: 3-2009 |
Oops I meant to say these hymns are even more real now than before. In our visits to other churches I always check out their hymnals to see the different hymns and how some of the verses are different than in the SDA hymnal. | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1824 Registered: 4-2000  |
The Microsoft Word software that runs my word processing repeatedly tells me, whenever I check my spelling, to replace "SDA Church" with "SAD Church" instead (smile). Although Seventh-day Adventists sing many songs with an anti-gospel message, I am grateful that they also sing songs that they don't really believe in (i.e., "It is Well with my Soul," "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine," etc.). These bibically-correct hymns/songs are a powerful catalyst in God's hand to call His people out of the darkness of Adventism. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 483 Registered: 10-2008  |
The Are you ready question shows how the SDA church muddies up justification and sanctification. I have heard evangelical preachers ask that question but it is an altar call question or question to check oneself if they have responded to the call of Christ. If it's talked about beyond that it is always about living uprightly not to earn heaven but to walk in the ways of God so that we are becoming more and more like Him. Dennis, you are so right about hymns. When I was an SDA I really disliked hymns because the hope, the gospel and the messages of those songs always rubbed me wrong. Here I was trying to be as acceptable as possible and hoped I could just squeak by and get into heaven but the songs spoke to a sure thing when I was anything but sure---oh what a differnce the real Jesus makes | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 184 Registered: 5-2009 |
Thanks, Angelcat, for that hymn! I had to listen to it a few minutes as an antidote to the other song. (BTW, I recently looked up Grant Colfax Tullar who wrote "Nailed to the Cross". I had found an old hymn by him--'Fadeless Treasures'- in an old hymnal from a garage sale. He also wrote 'Face to Face with Christ My Saviour".) I still cringe when I hear the "Are you ready" song--all it meant to me was that, since I was still sinning, I was not ready for Jesus to come! I did not reflect Jesus in everything I did, I didn't always stand for the right (when it was really hot I got in the water & broke the Sabbath while I 'did my own pleasure', etc.) I knew I wasn't ready to 'stand in my place', whatever that means! It all depended on me. What a relief that 'Jesus Paid it All!" | ||
| Believer247 Registered user Username: Believer247 Post Number: 81 Registered: 3-2009 |
"Jesus Paid It All" - another hymn that I love now - never grasped what it meant until just last year. This hymn was sung in SS & church but it was just words, it didn't really mean to me then what it does now. |
