In this sermon, the preacher, D.L. Moody, emphasizes the importance of being prepared to meet God at any moment. He warns that God's coming can be sudden and unexpected, just like in the days of Noah. Moody quotes from Ezekiel 33, emphasizing the need to heed God's warnings and take them seriously. He pleads with the audience to ask themselves if they are ready to meet God and urges them to make preparations before the sermon ends. Moody also shares a personal story about a man named Chell who was willing to go to India for missionary work, highlighting the willingness to serve God. The sermon concludes with a reminder to always be ready for the return of the Son of Man.

Our text is taken from Isaiah chapter 6, verse 8. I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. And then another text, from Matthew 24, verse 44. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect it. Every one of us should be ready to be fetched by the Lord. These days I was reminded of a memorial sermon which the famous American evangelist, D. L. Moody, preached at the death of someone who had been with him in the ministry. His name was Philip Bliss. He was an American composer and hymn writer. The author of well-known hymns like, Almost Persuaded, Wonderful Words of Life, Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, Hallelujah, what a Saviour, As well as the music, for it is well with my soul. Tragically, Bliss and his wife died in a railroad accident. When he was only 38 years old. His death was a sudden and great shock to the Christian world. Moody stated what a disappointment this was for him. As he was personally still looking forward to the ministry. But he went on to say that since he had heard that he was to take this memorial service, There was just one thing running in his mind and he couldn't keep it out. And those words were, Therefore, be ye also ready. When Chell heard that Uncle Friedl was so sick in Switzerland in hospital. He and his friend prayed for him every day. One day he says, you know, we are praying for Uncle Friedl every day that God would touch him and heal him. And maybe one of us will go first. So he prayed for Uncle Friedl. Moody continued this. Be ready before the close of this sermon. Just ask yourself this question. Am I ready to meet God this moment? It was beyond Moody's understanding how anyone could postpone coming to the Lord. When in just a stroke, one can be gone. Into eternity. And maybe there is no hope. He explained how God's coming often is sudden and unexpected. As in the days of Noah, where people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the flood came and took them all away. And it came suddenly. He then quoted from Ezekiel 33. Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning. His blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning shall deliver his soul. Friends, I hope we have ears to hear what God is saying right now. If you hear the warning but don't take it seriously and don't act upon it, then your blood shall be upon your own head. You won't be able to blame anyone if you die unexpectedly. I want to plead with you today. I just felt I've got to come down here this afternoon and cry out. Therefore, be ye also ready. Make ready before the close of this sermon. Just ask yourselves this question. Am I ready to meet God this moment? If not, when will you be? Woe to you if you are not ready. Death could come to you as unexpectedly as it came to our brother Kjell. And where will you be then? They had asked me for a long time that I should come to them. But I was too weak. So I went to Kjell and said, Kjell, would you be prepared to go to India? And he rejoiced like a little child and said, I'd like to go. I said, you won't go alone. You'll go with your friend, Michael Müller from Germany. I knew they were big friends. Now, dear friends, death can come unexpectedly. Moody pleaded with them, I want to rouse you out of your death sleep. When I warn you to prepare to meet with God, I do it purely out of love. That makes me warn you. I'd like to close with an example. Something about the biggest fool. In the 1800s, many kings had their own court jesters. Often they were called fools. Not that they were fools. Some of them were very intelligent. And they had an important role that they played in the royal household. They were bright people. One king had such a court jester, and he gave him his staff, which was called the jester's staff. The king told the jester to go all over and look for someone who was a bigger fool than he himself. As he gave him the stick, he said, If you find a bigger fool than yourself, give him the stick. The jester went all over looking for a greater fool than himself. He travelled far and wide and found no one. He wondered what he should do. Should he go back to his king without having handed the staff to anyone? But eventually he came to the conclusion that there was no greater fool than himself. And he decided that he should go back to the king and admit that he was the biggest fool. As he returned, when he got to the palace, he heard that the king was on his death bed. They told the king that the jester had returned. They brought him to the king. When he was at the king, the king said in a soft voice, Wear it down after no sleep the previous night. And he said, My jester, things aren't looking good for me. I am leaving on a long, long journey. I don't know what I will meet up with or what it will be like or where it is going to take me. I don't even know where I am going. The jester said, Oh king, if it is like that, I am sure that you have prepared for this long journey from which we don't know whether you will return. The king said, No, I didn't have time to make preparations. I haven't concerned myself with that yet. I haven't started with any preparations. The jester called out, Your Majesty, I am shocked to hear this. If you haven't prepared for such a long journey, here is the stuff. You are the biggest fool I have ever met. And he said, Your Majesty, there is no greater fool on earth than you. And with that, he handed the stuff to the king. In conclusion, may not a single one of us be prepared and prepared after today. And Moody ended with these words, Oh, may God have compassion upon every soul assembled here. May our eyes be opened and all flee from wrath to come. May the divine warnings take hold on every soul. May we profit by this sad event. And may many be raised up in eternity to thank God for this meeting that it was ever held. And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me.