One thing is for sure, we’re close; really close. I am assessing my life and all that I am doing, and I find myself looking forward to the next thing that God has for us all; that is, His Church globally. Most watchers are watchers because of the shape of their calling and the comfort level (or lack thereof) of their lives. It’s a unique combination of God’s blessing mixed in with the reality of living in a fallen world. I have my health, but I must maintain it. I have a nice house, but I still need to clean it, repair it, and keep the yard looking nice. I love my wife and my family, but they bother me at times. My dogs are great, but they haven’t figured out how to use a toilet yet. My point is that in this world of beauty and decay, there is a continual series of setbacks and advances; some more than others. Such is life, and it’s wonderful.
I am a watcher because it motivates me to love and serve the Lord with an intensity that is not as common as it should be in the body of Christ; especially in these last days. (Hebrews 10:24,25) I try not to judge, but I do believe that heaven is a better place than this world, as beautiful as it is in certain areas. I am currently retrofitting a deck that is in disrepair. When I am done, this deck is going to look great. I do the same for all of our properties; but it takes a lot of work; which is something that I enjoy. I like a busy schedule and the constant challenge of making improvements and averting problems and such; but alas. it’s all temporary. Eventually the stuff that I build will break down; the paint will fade; the plumbing will need to be cleared or repaired; you get the point. In this world, things go from order to disorder; at least that’s what I am noticing when I look at myself in a mirror. For me, it’s not the years, it’s the miles. I, like a lot of older folks, have a deeper appreciation for the kingdom of heaven and the beauty that awaits us there. In heaven, nothing breaks, nothing wears down or out, and the best part is heaven is where Jesus is. Heaven is the ultimate goal for every believer; can we go now?
This Rapture that we are all looking for is our ride outta here and into glory, forever. Very soon we will be with Jesus and all those who love Him. It will happen in just a few days, or hours. I want to believe that this will be my last blog. I want to believe that today will be the day when the Master returns for us. I do believe that He is very close; I can sense it. All my bills are paid; all my chores are done, but my honey-do list continues on. I care a lot about people. I feel for those who will be left behind. Sometimes when I am picking up students in the morning routes in my school bus, I see them running to their stops, late. As I drive by the stop, I see them yelling for me to stop, which I promptly do. Nobody wants to be left behind, be it for a school bus, or any other ride that they are expecting to take; especially the Rapture. The fear and emotion of being left behind is sobering. I am thinking about all of those who will be left behind after the Rapture. For them, degradation of houses or properties will be the last thing on their mind. It will be about survival, but not just physical survival, I am talking spiritual survival.
People have proven time and again that when the going gets tough, the weak kill themselves. After all, we all just evolved from a puddle of goo; or so we have been taught. The lie of evolution will be the cause of untold millions of self-inflicted deaths after the Rapture. People will not be able to handle the overwhelming oppression and fear associated with panicking people who are bent on killing anyone who is a threat to them; which will be everyone. This is what physical survival will look like in a post-Rapture world.
However, spiritual survival is a totally different thing. If you want to be saved by God’s grace, then you have to place your faith and trust in Jesus and rely on His strength and grace to get you through; be it now or in a post-Rapture context. After the Rapture, it will be difficult for people, but for a post-Rapture believer, their faith in Christ will eventually lead to their death. I am speaking about trib-saints, those who come to faith in Jesus after the Rapture. These precious souls who, at the time of this writing, are not serving Jesus. They don’t understand their own spiritual predicament. They are not Rapture ready and when the trumpet blows, they will not be going with the rest of the Church because they are not a part of it. They are looking for the school bus, expecting to ride on it, but alas, they will miss it because they don’t have Jesus in their heart or life. He is not their Savior or Lord. I pray for them even now; but there is still hope for them if they repent after the Rapture and come to a true faith in Jesus.
John the Revelator describes those who die in Christ after the Rapture this way,
“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” – Revelation 7:14-17
If you’re left behind, you don’t have to fret too much. It’s still not to late to come to faith in Jesus. Once you have invited Christ to be your Lord and Savior, He will forgive you of your sin and cleanse you from your unrighteousness. You will be saved. If you die, you will be ushered into heaven and sequestered under the altar of the Lord for the duration of the tribulation; only to be resurrected into your glorified body after it’s over. This is the hope of any trib-saint who comes to faith after the Rapture. It’s better to receive Jesus on this side of the Rapture and go with the rest of the body of Christ when He calls us home. As Christians, we need to do our best to be that light that God has called us to be; we’re almost out of time, but it’s not too late.
If there is breath in your lungs, it’s never too late for a person to come to faith in Jesus if this is your desire. Everyone burning in hell right now would love to come to faith in Jesus, but for them, it is too late; but not for you. If you’re saved, then God would use you to reach someone who isn’t. If you’re not saved, then God would have you to be saved; this is His ultimate desire; the salvation of all people (2 Peter 3:9). Everyone must choose for themselves of their own free will. We can freely reject the Christ just as much as we can freely receive Him. The choice is ours and ours alone to make. I encourage you today to chose Jesus, and thus, choose eternal life.
Maranatha!
Encourage Men 