The Christian life is meant to be lived one moment at
a time. That is all we have because we can never know what the next second of
our life will bring. In the twinkling of an eye we can be with the Lord (1
Corinthians 15:52). That is a very sobering thought. Yesterday in San Diego we
had the all too familiar rumbling and shaking of an earthquake that measured
5.2 on the Richter Scale. It was definitely noticeable, but not the strongest
one I have ever felt. Every time one of these events occurs the news media
reminds everyone of what to do. Drop,
cover, and hold on! Of course, the first and best course of action is to be
prepared. While my house was shaking for about 10 seconds it made me think,
"would I be ready for a major earthquake that could do considerable damage
to my home"? Like many others here in Southern California I have
never purchased earthquake insurance because of the cost. Fire insurance is
expensive enough. So I have to live with what could be. That said, the one thing
I am ready for is the Lord's return which could happen at any moment. I believe
that the rapture of the church (composed of true Christian believers) is
imminent. No prophetic event must occur before Jesus calls his church to
be with him. "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the
Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another
with these words” (1 Thess. 4:15-18).
What about you? Are you ready for the Lord's return?
If you are alive at that time and you are not taken to be with the Lord, you
will remain on earth to face seven years of the worst tribulation in the
history of mankind. And, if you survive it to the end, you will be taken in
judgment at the second coming of Christ to the earth.
“But as the days of Noah were, so also
will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day
that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the
flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man
be. Then two men will be in the field: one
will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding
at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for
you do not know what hour your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:37-42).
Don't be caught off guard! Earthquakes do not give advanced
notice and neither does the Lord.
Keep pressing on,
Pastor Tom
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