Wes K ~ per your post here http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/jan2006/wesk13-1.htm
Guess you assumed these were Paul N.F.’s written words – but you’ll want to look again! J Paul N.F. carefully selects AW Tozer devotionals & posts them here at Doves every morning. A great number of us around here REALLLLLY appreciate that he continues to do this.
Here was the post to which you were referring:
Paul N. F. (2 Jan 2006)
"SPIRITUAL READINESS"
SPIRITUAL READINESS
By A.w. Tozer
The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Peter 4:7
When the Bible says that God is calling a special people
out of the nations to bear the name of His eternal Son, I
believe it and His name is Jesus!Our pious forefathers believed in spiritual preparation,
and they said so. They saw themselves as a bride being
prepared to meet the Bridegroom. They regarded this
earth as the dressing room to outfit themselves for
heaven.The evangelical church has come through a period
when nearly everyone has believed that there is just one
prerequisite to readiness: being born again. We have
made being born again almost like receiving a pass to a
special event - when Jesus returns we whip out the pass
to prove our readiness.Frankly, I do not think it will be like that. I do not
believe that all professed believers are automatically ready
to meet the Lord. Our Savior Himself was joined by Peter
and John and Paul in warning and pleading that we should
live and watch and pray, so to be ready for Jesus' coming.I realize that some may take exception to this – I expect many (esp. the ones who believe being “born again” is all about “easy believism”) will suppose that ALL Christians are going in the rapture. However, I think exactly as Tozer thinks on this; I think it will only be the Christians who are ABIDING IN THE VINE; who are walking with Jesus; who are not PRACTICING (or as I say ~ “wallowing” in the “sin of the month club”). {Galatians 5:19-21}
The Bible is clear that we MUST live holy lives in order to see God {Hebrews 12:14}
Furthermore, it is clear that the wrath of God comes upon ~ not only the unbelievers, but the “children of DISOBEDIENCE”. {Ephesians 5:6}
No, none of us will be “perfect” while down here – we’re not claiming people have to be perfect in order to go in the rapture. But there are “rapture requirements” and the ones who will be going are the ones who name the name of Christ and DEPART from iniquity; {2 Timothy 2:19} the ones who CHOOSE to not be SLAVES TO SIN {Romans 6:16} and the ones whom JESUS KNOWS {Matt 25:10,11}
These are not “works” in order to be raptured ~ for we either want to please God with our lives, or we do not. For those who desire to keep Jesus as their first love, and to follow Him, we are told to bear this fruit by keeping His commandments. (note: no, we are NOT to keep the “law” which is the law of Moses; but we ARE to keep the commandments of God…. See 1 John 2:3-5, for this is truly the test of “knowing Him”) I do not think it’s any mistake that we are told in Luke 21:36 to watch & pray always to be counted worthy to escape all these things.
A simple “belief” in Jesus & then choosing to live as the world lives will not be a passport for one to go in the rapture. {James 4:4} {nor will they go to heaven at all – unless they repent} Even the demons BELIEVE; and tremble at the thought. {James 2:19} It is only the ones who do the will of the Father who will inherit eternal life. {Matthew 7:21}
I full well realize this may not be the “pretty” or the “popular” belief, but this is simply going by SCRIPTURE.
More info on who will be raptured: http://www.truthablaze.com/ready.html
*** Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ***
AMEN! ~ even so, come Lord Jesus!
Jesus is coming super, SUPER SOON!!