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Be Prepared
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Berean BPC 13th Anniversary , Mar 9 2003)
Text: I Thess 5:1-11
"Be prepared!" This is the watchword of the Boy
Scouts and I would apply it to Christians, especially so at this
crucial hour of an impending war between America and Iraq. This is
predicted in Rev 9:13-16. Here is described what is seen as the
Third World War breaking out at the great River Euphrates which is
modern day Iraq.
From the newspapers are photos showing us how
the ordinary Iraqis are preparing for the war to come by stocking up
water and food and other essentials. But with the threat of America
using nuclear arms should Saddam hurl missiles of mass destruction,
should I have the means as an Iraqi, I would escape from the war by
fleeing to next door Jordan, far away from the scene.
Christians are well forewarned in the Scripture
I’ve quoted. We should be prepared for the worst, yes, even for a
Third World War. For we never can tell. Winston Churchill, the
British Prime Minister who lead the British people against Hitler in
WWII said that war-mongers who happily declare war like masters are
immediately become slaves and they are at the mercy of the tides of
war which they have no power to control.
Beloved, when I say we must be prepared for the
worst even a Third World War, I am not trying to scare but sanely
repeating what Scripture says.
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye
have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when
they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should
overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be
sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be
drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be
sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died
for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with
him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another,
even as also ye do." (I Thess 5:1-11)
The first thing to be prepared is our own
salvation. Have you prepared your space suit of faith, hope and love
for Christ will come to save us in the clouds from heaven? When He
comes to save His own as Judge He will open the graves of Christians
who are truly born again and give them new bodies and they will rise
into the air to meet the Lord. Then we who are alive who have
believed in Him will suddenly be caught up in a rapture also to meet
Him, without seeing death. Can you say you are ready?
The second preparation is are you occupying till
He comes? While on earth we are to busily engage in witnessing for
the Lord. We are not merely Church-going Christians. To every
Christian is given some talents to trade, some five, some two and
some one. Let us not be like him who receives one talent. This man
buried his talent in the earth and returned it to his Lord without
any profit, which was a loss.
What we thank God for Lifers is whenever we open
a new door of witnessing they will come forward to help out. Deacons
are willing to lead, of late, going into Malaysia – Johor Bahru and
Kota Tinggi to teach Sunday School. Now Kota Tinggi has 40-50
students after three months. Berean, located in Changi, can work out
your opening to witness for the Lord.
We are so close to the Lord’s coming because we
see man making a greater mess than ever like America trying to bring
a new regime into Iraq. Americans may kill thousands of Iraqis to
win the war but not the peace! That is why Jesus must come back to
earth to bring in a thousand years of peaceful reign without war any
more. He will be King of kings ruling from Jerusalem.
As Bush cannot bring peace to this sin-cursed
world, nor U.N., nor any other country, the Lord’s programme of
accelerated missions according to Matt 24:14 must go on. Berean BPC
may still be young but as you continue to witness faithfully,
waiting for His coming, your future is bright. You can bring hope
and salvation to everyone who will believe. May you show forth the
way with a refreshing sermon each week to every seeker of the truth.
"Be prepared."
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