No one has greater reason to prepare themselves or greater opportunity to make preparations than the follower of Christ. The Christian’s preparation signals that there are challenges ahead to overcome and rewards to attain.
Each item in the list below contains an important verb: receive, transmit, overcome, perform, learn, confront, enter. The list thus indicates that our preparation must be for action.
1. Prepare yourself to receive immersion (baptism) in water
Some have already received it, but others around the world urgently need to take this step that places us in Christ. I include it here as the first preparation because, without it, everything else will be impossible.
Brethren often speak of “candidates” for baptism. The term captures the idea that not everyone should be immersed in water. There must be understanding of God’s plan, a decision to live for Christ, and a confession that recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, Lord, and Savior.
Therefore, if you received some denominational ritual called baptism, you did not have an understanding of God’s plan, because religions distort Christ’s teaching. We love our religious friends, but the testimony of the Scriptures is clear regarding the nature of this essential step.
2. Prepare yourself to transmit the teaching of Christ
Jesus told the Twelve that they did not need to think beforehand about what to say or prepare themselves, Matthew 10.19-20, because the Spirit would speak through them, as he promised in John 14.26 and 16.13. But that promise was limited to the apostles and prophets during the early period of the church when miraculous gifts were present. These men were the foundation of the church, Ephesians 2.20.
The revelation of the Spirit through them was preserved in the New Testament. It is fitting that we study and know it in order to pass on to others what God offers to everyone. This responsibility belongs to each one of us. The mission belongs to the Body of Christ, which is composed of all its members.
3. Prepare yourself to overcome temptation
Whoever waits until temptation arrives will be defeated. When Jesus overcame temptation, he had been preparing for years. He had the word of God on the tip of his tongue. The answer came to him because he had already read it, meditated on it, and implanted it in his heart. In this way, he could choose the appropriate passage that drove the devil away.
4. Prepare yourself to perform the service of God
Before the moment of need arrives, think about the kind of servant you will be. Those who have a gift must take care of it and develop it. Also prepare yourself to receive criticism, face challenges, and coordinate better with other brethren. There is an idea that service is something beautiful—and it is—but that does not mean we can neglect serving. “Do not neglect the gift that was given to you” 1 Timothy 4.14.
For this we ask God for humility and wisdom.
5. Prepare yourself to learn from sufferings
Some think they are prepared to receive God’s blessings, but they are not, because very often those blessings are granted through moments and situations of suffering.
The third stanza of the Brazilian hymn “The Voice of Jesus” is absolutely correct: “Jesus called me to suffer. / His cross teaches me the way / to overcome evil with such firmness / that I am never alone” (is.gd/vozjesus).
Precisely to prepare Timothy and the saints in Ephesus, Paul wrote: “In fact, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3.12. The intensity, severity, frequency, and source may vary, but he guarantees that it will happen.
Sufferings are part of God’s plan, both in the sacrifice of his Son and in our service for the gospel. We grow in holiness through them, Hebrews 12, and advance in service.
6. Prepare yourself to confront false teachers
Jesus warned, as did the apostles and prophets, about the rise of false brethren with destructive doctrines. I quote here a text from brother Wayne Jackson, written several years ago and recently cited in “Verse of the Day,” published daily on the website irmaos.org:
The brotherhood of Christ faces an imminent war unlike any we have seen in our lifetime. It will not be won by “soft” brethren who avoid any kind of controversy and are reluctant to identify the guilty. Nor will victory be achieved by glassy-eyed right-wingers who see a “liberal” hiding behind every bush. What will be needed are studious, courageous, credible, and vigorous lovers of the truth who are willing to go on the offensive rather than sit passively while wolves ravage God’s flock.
7. Prepare yourself to enter eternity
The saints cherish among themselves “the hope that is stored up for you in heaven” Colossians 1.5; cf. 1 Peter 1.5. Everything they do has as its goal this one hope, Ephesians 4.4, which is focused on eternal life. Their eye is single. They have no other goal than to “enter the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1.10-11.
This life is preparatory for the next. We have a unique opportunity to prepare ourselves for eternity.
This article was translated from Portuguese. It is to be published soon in the Brazilian magazine, Edificação, the only national publication now in circulation.
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