Behold I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 LSB
Yesterday we celebrated the birthdays of my two nephews (one great) and my great-niece. I couldn’t help but think about how time has flown. I saw my nephew there with his two children. His daughter who was twelve just yesterday and is now in college. His son who was just born yesterday and is now 8 years old. I still see both my nephews as being in their teen years. When I think about their true ages, it seems as though time has flown.
It seems as though in the blink of an eye, we have all gotten older.
It’s been the same with Christmas this year. It seems as though one minute we were in the dire heat of summer in July and August, and we blinked, and suddenly it was Thanksgiving, with Christmas looming just around the corner.
If you think about it, I guess that’s kind of what it was like when Jesus was born. The world was just going about doing its thing and this baby was born with no fanfare no parades, no great celebration. He was just born in a manger to a poor young couple. Caesar was taking his census, the shepherds were tending their sheep, the wise men were doing their wise things like studying the stars and this baby was born in Bethlehem in a manger.
The first Christmas happened with most of the world unaware until angels appeared and the star shown for the wise men. People were just going about their business.
Our children’s church lesson yesterday was about the preparation God put into Jesus’ birth. He sent His angel, Gabriel, to Zechariah to let him know that a son would be born to him, and Elizabeth and that this son would be named John and would prepare the way for the Messiah. He also sent Gabriel to Mary and Joseph to let them know what was going on.
We must also prepare for when Christ comes again. As I mentioned earlier, I have been reviewing some commentaries and studies on the book of Revelation. We are clearly told that no one knows the day or the hour when the rapture will occur. Nor do we know the day and time we will die a physical death and our souls will leave this earth.
I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. I believe that those of us who are believers who love the Lord and are doing our best to be obedient to Him will be raptured prior to the tribulation. It’s important we understand, however, that the tribulation is going to be extremely difficult on those left behind. Trust me when I say, it will be a lot easier to get it right here and now and be raptured than it will be to be saved and survive the tribulation period.
This is why it is so important to not delay in drawing near to God (James 4:8). This is why we must surrender our lives to God before it’s too late. We need to let go of the sin in our lives. We need to confess our sins to Him, repent and be forgiven.
Our Scripture passage tells us this will all happen in the twinkling of an eye. I looked at my nieces and nephews yesterday and couldn’t believe how quickly the last 8 years have passed. Time is flying and we are told this will happen in the twinkling of an eye. This means you blink, and it’s done.
Please don’t delay. I don’t want anyone of us to have to go through the Tribulation. I don’t want anyone to have to decide whether they want to feed their families and take the mark of the beast or worship God and have eternal life. Get out of here before the chaos starts.
Some of you may be thinking the world is already filled with chaos and I agree, but I assure you my friend, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Get right before you get left.
Have a great day!