4 GLAD TIDINGS OCTOBER 2026 MEASURING OUR READINESS How Do We Size Up in the Eyes of the Lord Who is the true bride of Christ, and what standard can we use to determine whether she is fit to meet her bridegroom? How does the church measure up in the eyes of the Lord? What role does grace play in preparing her, or is it entirely based on her performance? We must be careful not to assume our works are the gauge by which we are deemed worthy to go up or be left behind. Our readiness to meet the Lord in the air is judged by whether we are truly born-again, not by our level of maturity. Whenever we prioritize the measure over the message, we shift our identity in Christ from grace to works. “And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” - Romans. 11:6 How are we to measure our readiness to meet the Lord in the air? What part does spiritual maturity play in determining whether we are going to be caught up or left behind? It’s startling that some say a considerable number of saints will miss the rapture. The larger part of this stems from their belief that unless our devotion and complete surrender are flawless, we will not qualify. Does God expect every child of God to live exemplary lives, fully mature in their faith, without any weak spots that still need resolving, to qualify them to be caught up at His return? Don’t be mistaken by what I am saying. I strongly advocate living a consecrated life, making every effort to obey God’s Word and live as He has commanded us. However, we must address this issue because it is a misnomer to think that we are only accepted before God by the measure of our perfection. If it is by our duties that we are admirably accepted, then we have based our readiness on our performance rather than on our identity in Christ. Think about all the saints who have gone before us. Do any of us believe they lived perfect lives with every area flawless? If that is how we picture a person’s readiness for the rapture, what will happen to those who have already died? Paul told the church that the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we that remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:14-17). How can we impose such a stringent demand on the living and dismiss the condition of those who have fallen asleep in Jesus? We talk about those who have gone on before us as already standing in the presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). We understand the criterion for them going to heaven was whether they were born-again or not. But somehow that is not what some are saying is the measure of our readiness for the rapture. If works are what qualify us, then how can we accept all those who are in the grave as being in heaven and due to be resurrected on that glorious day? The problem with some of what has been taught is that it suggests the presentday church has more to live up to than any other generation. What this suggests is that if we live any way less than perfect, then we risk being left behind. If this is the case, then many who are in the grave will not be resurrected because God is no respecter of persons. None of us have arrived and are perfect in all our ways. God does not judge our readiness by our works. What qualifies us is grace, grounded in our sincere belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Does that mean we can live any way we want and still make it? If some hope the answer is yes, I question whether they are truly saved. When we turn our lives over to the Lord, our hearts change. We may not do everything exactly as the Lord desires, but at least our intentions are pure, and our aim is to live upright. The scripture says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS A GIFT OF GOD, lest any man boast” (Eph. 2:8). None of us could ever save ourselves. We cannot expect works to finish what grace has started. Paul tells us plainly that you cannot mix works with grace and have it remain grace. Good works come because of grace, not grace because of good works. Paul also tells us: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). He mentions at the start of this same epistle, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (finish or complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). Do either verse conclude that it is our work that saves us? Is it up to us to grind out our salvation day by day to be counted worthy? If that is how we believe, then we have exalted the method above the message and the measure above the means. In any case, holding to this idea is nothing more than placing a higher standard on our performance than the power of the blood of Jesus (1 Cor. 1:4-9; Col. 2:9, 10; Heb. 13:20, 21). Our acceptance before God is not based on strings attached to our performance but on our covenantal and relational oneness. We do not live right just to miss going to hell, and neither do we strive according to the flesh to make it to heaven. Everything about our readiness is keyed to our relationship. If we are His church, His body, then we will meet the Lord in the air. He is not coming for part of His body and leaving the rest behind. We cannot measure our readiness by how precisely we dot every “i” and cross every “t”. Jesus plainly tells us, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 12, 13). It was grace that saved us, and it will be grace that keeps us. We certainly want to do right, live right, and act right. But let us keep in mind that the same saving grace that began this good work in us will remain the standing grace that holds us, keeps us, and carries us safely into the arms of our loving Savior. As Paul reminds us: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us—by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5). DEFINING MOMENTS All the New Testament writers indeed exhorted us to live ready. I don’t think any of us want to stand before Him, ashamed of how we have lived our Christian lives. Good works are necessary, but they cannot be the measure of our readiness for the Rapture. We must choose to live devotedly, with clean hands and a pure heart. Whether we follow the letter of the law perfectly is not the measuring line. It is the blood of Jesus that makes us righteous and not how perfectly we toe the line. CONFESSION I am determined to live at the very center of God’s will, loving Him and desiring Him above all else in this world. I am completely devoted to Him. But I will never judge my walk with God or my readiness to see Him face to face by my performance. I may not be perfect in all my ways, but my heart is perfectly devoted to keeping all His ways. PRAYER Father, you made me a new creature, and I choose today to follow the Holy Spirit in all my ways, who guides and directs my every step. I know there is still work to be done in me, but I wholly depend on you to finish what you started. I await the day when I shall see you face to face. This is my joy and rejoicing. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Permission Granted PASTOR DAVID DUNNING FAITH HARVEST CHURCH 221 Executive Drive, Unit 6 Savannah GA 31406 (912) 712-3098 pastor1@fhcsavannah.org PASTORS DAVID AND BETTY DUNNING SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
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