January 02 2021

Today, Saturday January 2 – Are you prepared? And of course the answer is, “Sometimes we are prepared and sometimes we are not prepared.” And sometimes we think we are prepared when we aren’t really prepared. Back in my college days, I thought I had properly prepared for a big test in my Christian History seminary class. As soon as I started taking the test, I realized I had not studied the right notes and I got a F on the test. Now there are somethings that if we don’t prepare properly, we will suffer the consequences, but they are not really all that bad. But there are somethings that if we don’t prepare for, the consequences are eternally disastrous! Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:44 that “we should be ready – prepared, for the Son of Man will come in an hour you do not expect.” Our theme verses at RFBC for 2021 are found in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us.”

This morning, I woke up to the sad news that a dear friend and fellow pastor, Johnnie Brewer, went to be with the Lord yesterday. He was pastor of the New Life Baptist Church on the north side of Baltimore MD. He was posting videos on FB just a couple weeks ago for his church services on December 13. He got COVID, was hospitalized, and had a stroke and heart attack. This of course breaks our hearts, but the “Good News” is that he was prepared to go and be with the Lord. He was the most kind, generous, gentle and godliest man that you would ever meet, but he didn’t go to heaven because he was good, he went to heaven because he had made preparations. One day Johnnie accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and received the “Righteousness of God.” Today, he is rejoicing in the presence of the Lord and his dear friend Eric Farel, and his godly dad too. Are you prepared for what really matters? Jesus is the only way to prepare for eternity! God bless!