Are We Ready To Go?

A Navy corpsman (medic) had told his parents that he thought it would be several months before he would be departing for Iraq. Then the phone rang late that night — the young man was told to get ready to go to Iraq immediately.

He called his family members and told them what had happened. They wished him well, prayed for him to have a safe journey — and that was it.

A couple of restless hours later, the young corpsman sent a text message to his family: “We’re not going — We’re headed back.” A helicopter ride to another state and back was the extent of the corpsman’s trip that night — just a test, but it was still a valuable experience. It tested their readiness. The military had to know that when the call came, the corpsmen would be mentally ready to go.

When it comes to our being ready for eternity, we won’t get a practice run because no one knows when we will depart this earth either through death or be called home at Jesus’ return.

Beloved, if we were called into eternity today, would we be prepared to meet the Lord? Is our house in order? (cf. 2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1). Are our sins forgiven? (1 John 1:9).

As the apostle was always ready to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23; 2 Timothy 4:6), are we ready to go?

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets