by Pastor Rick Watson
I woke up this morning and in my mind there was this song: “What if it were today? “Jesus is coming to earth again. What if it were today? Coming in power and love to reign. What if it were today? Coming to claim His chosen Bride. All the redeemed and purified. Over this whole earth scattertered wide. What if it were today? “
Perhaps it’s because of the marathon pandemic we have been experiencing for the last 2 ½ years or maybe it’s because of what’s happening in the Ukraine (wars and rumors of wars), or maybe it’s the nv environment (glaciers melting – the sea level rising). Whatever the motivation, my thoughts were simply this: What if it were today? Am I ready for the return of Christ? He is coming again you know!!!
In Acts 1:11 the angels spoke to His disciplies saying “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The apostle Paul wrote these words “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 togeter with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” ( I Thessalonians 4:16,17).
We are in the Lenten season, a time of reflection and consideation of the sacrifice of Christ. Many will fast and pray, new commitments are being made as we judge oursevles and our relationship to Christ. He, Jesus, has challenged us to take up our cross daily to follow Him!! Are we doing that?
During the month of April our thoughts will turn to thoughts of spring and New Life as the trees present their buds and the flowers begin to bloom but this time represents so much more! Jesus’ last meal with His disciplies (the Last Supper), His prayer in the Garden ( He prayed for us), His trial (illegal) and His beating with a ‘cat of nine-tails” (by His stripes we are healed!), His crucifixion (sins of the world ), burial (in a borrowed tomb), then His Resurrection (bodily).
The Ukranian people are fighting to the death for their country and their freedom – they are truly at war! We are at war as well – fighting for the souls of men and women, boys and girls! Jesus gave His life so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life. That was his mission – our mission to make disciplies and teach them the things He has commanded.
We have a real enemy !! Jesus said in John 10:10 (The enemy has come to steal, to kill and destroy but I have come that they may have eternal life.”
The signs of the times reveal that Jesus could return at any moment, “What if it were today?” Is your house in order? Have you given your heart, your all, to Jesus! If not, why not? If not now, then when?
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN, ARE YOU READY ???