Why Should One Prepare? Because meeting God is inevitable: “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Roman 14:10–12). Meeting God is just as certain as death (Hebrews 9:27).
And because heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people: “I go to prepare a place for you. 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” (John 14:2–3).
How Should One Prepare? We are not left to wonder what one must do to be prepared to meet God. God has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Preparing to meet God involves hearing (Acts 10:33); believing (Act 16:31; Hebrews 11:6); repenting of sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38); confessing faith in Christ as the Son of God (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37); being baptized (Mark 16:15–16); adding Christian graces (2 Peter 1:5–8); and being faithful unto death (Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10).
When Should One Prepare? The time to prepare is now, in this life. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Once the rich man in the parable died and was in torment, it was too late for him to prepare (Luke 16:19–31). Preparation must be made while one has the opportunity (Matthew 25:1–13).
Salvation does not just happen. One must prepare, and one must prepare according to the why, the how, and the when that God has put forth.
—Kevin D. Smith
