Being prepared requires action. Just as parents must prepare their children for adulthood, God is preparing His children for the kingdom of God. God has a place prepared for us. But are we prepared to enter into His kingdom and receive it? In order to enter into the kingdom God we must have a relationship with Jesus Christ and have a heart to obey Him. When we stand before the Lord after we leave this earth, we must each stand alone. We cannot rely on family, friends or church affiliation to get us in. So let’s make sure we are ready by examining our lives now. Again…

Are you prepared to enter Heaven?

Nobody can enter heaven in a physical body. We need a spiritual body or a resurrected body. The only way we can get one of those is to die physically or be caught up in the rapture when Jesus comes to take His church to Heaven.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New King James Version – ¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.
• Revelation 14:13 New King James Version – ¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

But even before we leave this earth, we need to start living as citizens of Heaven.

• Philippians 3:20-21 New King James Version – ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Jesus prepared His disciples for what was coming ahead. He knew He was about to die and be raised from the dead. But He reassured them that He was going to Heaven to prepare a place for them:

• Matthew 17:22-23 New King James Version – ²² Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, ²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
• John 14:1-3 New King James Version – 14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

We must die to the flesh in order to be prepared for Heaven.

• Romans 8:12-14 New King James Version – ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

If we are not prepared to go to Heaven, we will automatically end up in hell. Jesus died so no one has to go there. If we reject Jesus’ offer of salvation and refuse to submit to Him, we will end up in hell. But, if we choose to follow Jesus everyday, we will be prepared for Heaven.

Everyone on earth needs to ask themselves this question AND know the answer…”If you were to die today, are you prepared to go? Do you know where you will spend eternity?” If we don’t know, we need to get our spiritual house in order.

• Matthew 24:36 New King James Version – “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

There are only two places places we can go to when we die–either to Heaven to be with the Lord forever, or to hell to be separated from the Lord forever. When it’s time for our physical death, we must be ready for what comes next. The Bible says…

• Hebrews 9:27-28 King James Version – ²⁷ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ²⁸ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

As Christians, we should not be afraid of death if our house is in order.

• Revelation 14:13 King James Version – And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

Even in nature, the animals know they need to prepare. Squirrels are never idle. They are busy preparing for winter. So are the ants. They store up AHEAD OF TIME. The Lord wants us to be storing up treasures in heaven. We do that by developing a relationship with Jesus Christ and living for Him. JESUS IS OUR TREASURE.

• Matthew 6:19-21 King James Version – ¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Receiving Jesus into our heart and life is the greatest decision we can ever make. This is not a one time decision–it is a daily walk with God where we decide to obey the Lord and serve Him daily.

• Matthew 17:22-23 King James Version –  And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

A fool is someone who mocks God and God’s Word.

• 2 Peter 3:3-4 King James Version – ³ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴ And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

God has not forgotten His Word. He is giving people time to repent.

• 2 Peter 3:9-11 King James Version – ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.¹¹ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Jesus died, rose from the dead on the 3rd day (just like He prophesied) and is in Heaven preparing a place for us.

• John 14:1-3 King James Version – 14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

We need to recognize that there are blockers trying to prevent us from going to heaven. Press past each one and live for Jesus daily. We must die to our sinful desires daily to be prepared to go to heaven.

• Galatians 5:24-25 New Living Translation – ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

We must get our physical house in order too.

• Don’t leave your family in debt.
• Have a will in place.
• Get insurance should anything happen to you–and even get insurance for your children, should they die first.
• Make sure someone knows where to find the documents.
• Make sure the documents are updated.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, we must make sure we have the documents needed to get into Heaven–WE MUST HAVE A DOCUMENTED RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.

• Philippians 3:18-20 New Living Translation – ¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. ²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

#1 FORGIVE.

God’s way is forgiveness. The way to be a godly man is to forgive. When we choose to do things God’s way, we win. The stakes are high when it comes to children. Men should be willing to swallow their pride and do what is necessary to make things right. Godly men make a difference in their children’s lives.

• Colossians 3:12-14 King James Version – ¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering ¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

#2 SACRIFICE TIRELESSLY.

Many times in life the man (the father and husband) does not outlive his spouse. He must sacrifice while he is alive and even make provision for his family in the event of his death. That’s what Jesus did for us. He provided for His believers (sons and daughters) while He ministered on earth and He is still preparing for His family now.

• Proverbs 23:24 King James Version – The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Men need to get resources from above from the Lord to be able to continue to have spiritual strength and resources to pour out to others.

#TRAIN YOUR CHILD TO KNOW GOD THE FATHER. YOU ARE THE PROPHET IN YOUR HOME.

Many men in modern times have grown up without a father. Some may have been raised by their mothers only. But that doesn’t mean that those who have grown up without a biological can’t become an excellent father. The Father of fathers is readily available to help every man become an amazing man of God who raises more children of God.

Godly men teach their children to turn to God with their problems and to turn to the Bible for wisdom. Lead by modeling. Let your child see you on your knees praying, helping others, reading the Bible and being vulnerable at times. Other children and even men follow the example of godly men. Godly fathers are sometimes the only impression of God that people have–live your life like people are watching your behavior because they are.

• 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 New King James Version – ² You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

God gave His all, His only and His best to us so we could live. God gave us Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins so we could have the opportunity to be saved.

• John 3:16-17 King James Version – ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Make time for your children. Time is often a greater resource than money. When you give your time you give your heart and your literal life to your children.

Be led by the Holy Spirit and instill the Word of God into your family. The Word of God and following the Word of God is the best gift a man can give to his children.

• Joshua 24:15-17 New King James Version –¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

#4 LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

When identifying a godly man, pay attention to their actions and not their conversation. Never be caught up by smooth words. Look for fruit. That’s how God identifies our true beliefs.

• Matthew 7:16-17 New King James Version – ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.