ARE YOU READY FOR THE LORD'S RETURN ?

 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