As we move right along this timeline, a lot of things are happening in the world. Suffice it to say that we should not be discouraged by passed high watch dates that have been set by others; rather, we must remember that the Lord’s return for His Church is always in front of us. More importantly than that, in front of the seven-year tribulation. This being said, for those who fear being left behind, I should like to remind you that the Lord never leaves His own behind no more than you would leave your kid or grandkid behind at the store, on vacation, or in some other place that you visited with them. It’s not how we roll as good parents and grandparents, and it’s not how God, our good, good Father, treats His children. One of the tricks of the enemy is to get genuine believers to think that they might be left behind after the Rapture. It’s a dirty trick from the enemy and one that we must not succumb to. The devil knows what’s waiting for us in heaven because he’s been there and knows that he can never go back. He knows what God has prepared for His children and he doesn’t want us to inherit what is rightfully ours thorough our faith and belief in the Lord Jesus.
Some watchers are claiming that the Rapture is a privilege, not a right, but the truth is, the Rapture is God’s way of collecting His people, living and dead, to Himself prior to the seven-year tribulation. I tell you that the Rapture is a privilege for all true believes in Jesus and it’s their right to participate in it based on the status as true children of God.
This is how the Apostle John said it, He (Jesus) came to His own (the Jews), and His own (people) did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (authority) to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
– John 1:11-13
The next time someone tries to tell you that your Rapture out of this world is not a right, you know the truth. It’s not only your right as a true child of God, but it’s a privilege that God bestows upon His children to receive them in the Rapture. If you miss the Rapture, it means that you were NOT saved, no matter what you thought. The good news is that you still can be saved after the Rapture, but it will be a much harder path.
This kind of fear of missing the Rapture and the rejection and unworthiness associated with this spiritual warfare that the enemy wages against us is on the rise, especially for true believers in Jesus who are hanging on by a proverbial thread. The devil doesn’t know when the Rapture is no more than any other person; however, he, like us as true watchers, knows that it’s close, even at the door. As a result, he is going after those who truly belong to the Lord. Mainly because he knows who are his and he knows who are God’s. He is not going to mess with those who are his because he already has them. He is going after those who belong to the Lord because he knows this hurts the heart of the Father. However, God is faithful and will not allow us to be taken out of His hand. Stay strong man (woman) of God! The devil may be throwing rocks, but God will protect us.
One of the ways we can remain faithful to the Lord in these last of the last days is to occupy well. The idea of occupying up until the moment we are taken in the Rapture is not a new idea; rather, it’s a command from the Lord Himself as manifested in the Parable of the Ten Minas. (Luke 19:11-27) In that parable, Jesus is represented by the Master who went on a long journey.
“So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’” – Luke 19:13
For the record, a ‘mina,’ from the Hebrew word minah, is worth about three months’ salary. To put that amount into perspective, ask yourself how much do you make in a month, and then triple it. This is what the Master gave to His servants. Their orders were ‘to do business with it until He returned.’ So it is with us and what we are to be doing with what the Lord has given to us as we wait for our Master to return. God has given each of us a portion of His resource, some more than others, but all have been given something. I am not just talking money, but talents, resources, and other gifts that He intended for us to be using to ‘do business’ until He returns. The phrase, ‘do business’ is also translated ‘occupy,’ and it means to keep busy about the Master’s business, which is our business, if it’s done unto the Lord. Everything that the Lord has instructed us to do and be, when it comes to how we occupy, is laid out in the Bible; in both the OT and NT. We have been given an array of good and bad examples in which to reference as we occupy and do business until the Lord returns. I find myself wanting to hold back on certain repairs in order to save a few dollars; however, when those repairs need to be made, paying a vendor to do the work is all about doing business. That repair guy also has to work and make a living. As we contract others for services, we are stimulating the local economy and helping it to move along too. The Christian dollar should be the best and most reliable. How we spend and invest is a direct reflection of our love for the Lord and our obedience to Him as He prompts us.
We need to take good care of all that the Master has entrusted to our care. We need to be good stewards of our finances, paying our bills, our taxes, and attending to our responsibilities and obligations and such. We need to represent the Lord well in all of our exchanges, knowing that in the end, we will have to give an account for them. For me, I find myself working very hard managing our properties and trusting in the Lord for His increase and protection. I want to be a good steward of all that the Lord has blessed me with, beginning with my family.
To occupy well is our end time mandate, especially as we can clearly see the unsustainability of where we are headed, at least in this world. It can become all too easy to fret over the many ‘bridge is out’ scenarios that are quickly and vastly approaching. Instead of fearing what might happen, let’s use the obvious to help us better determine how we are to negotiate our future, as limited as it may be in this life. We don’t want to be like the guy who buried his talents in fear of the Master’s return, but instead, invest them wisely as we move right along in this time line. Too many believers like to stockpile resources for a rainy day instead of using more of it for the work of the Lord, both in the local church and missions. It does you (or your money) no good to not work while it is day for the same reason that when night comes, nobody can work. We must do the work, make the investment, plan ahead, and pay our bills on time while we can. I get that we should save a little, but all of it?
Look, I get that a lot of watchers may be a bit discouraged over all of the so-called missed high watch windows; but I want to remind us all that we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be; tried, tested, and overcoming. We need to keep our eyes Jesus, not on another high watch or passed high watch date. We need to stay focused on what God has entrusted to our care and do our best to be our best in these last days as we occupy until He returns. If we’re going to have a Spring Rapture, then we had better get to tending our gardens and being that witness that the Lord has called us to be. The Summer solstice begins June 21st. I, for one, find myself looking forward to worshipping the Lord in the church I attend, giving my tithes, offerings and talents to the Lord as I fellowship with my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Church should be a taste of heaven and being in God’s presence with God’s people. We must never neglect what God is doing in our local fellowships. The Lord would use you to be a positive blessing to those who also attend and who are also moving right along on this same time line.
We all long for heaven, we all long to be with Jesus and all those who love Him. Let’s work on making God’s house crowded by doing our best to please Him in the daily process of our life, work, and witness for Him. Until He returns, may we be found faithful to the Lord, working in that part of the vineyard that He has entrusted to our care.
Maranatha!
Encourage Men 