The Rapture. To Christians, it is the most anticipated future event left in the world. You hear talk of it in churches worldwide. Everyone wants to try to predict it, prepare for it, and even get a glimpse of what it’s going to be like when we get there. I’ve got a question; what are you going to be doing when it happens?
Let that sink in for a minute. When the Rapture happens, what are you going to be doing? Will you be reading your Bible, the newspaper, or the new super hero comic book. Will you be at work doing your best to provide and example, or will you be taking that extended lunch break because no one is looking? Maybe you’re not even ready to find out.
What makes this question interesting is the fact that the Rapture is an event that you simply cannot schedule. No one on this Earth knows the time or day. We just know that it will happen. All those that trusted in Jesus alone for their salvation will be taken in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
I want you to blink. Try timing a normal blink. Look at your stopwatch. It’s going to happen that fast.
Jesus promised that He Himself would return to collect His children in the air. He is not in the habit of making promises that He doesn’t keep. If Jesus said it would happen, believe it. It’s coming.
I’m not asking anyone to try to predict when it will happen. I’m curious to know if anyone has ever thought of what they will be doing WHEN it happens. The most common answer I got when I polled various people is they think they will be asleep. This has something to do with a fear of the unknown, I believe. We’re afraid of what is going to happen, so we picture the least painful outcome possible so we can sleep at night. Let me assure of one thing; anything that happens that fast, usually doesn’t hurt. Not to mention the fact that Jesus is not going to hurt you. He just wants to bring you home and He is coming by to pick you up.
I had a few people say that they would be at work. I would like to add that these people work around twelve hours a day and getting out early for any reason is a great thing. Some said that they would be at home with their family. Makes you think twice about yelling at your kids for spilling the grape juice on the rug, doesn’t it? Still others I talked to have no clue what they are going to be doing. They know it’s coming, they are excited about it coming, but they simply don’t think about it that often. They want to be surprised, I guess.
The biggest fear that I ran across, and I share this fear, is that they would be driving when they get called home. I have this fear for a very real reason, as did most of the people that I talked to. If you are driving a car and the Rapture happens, you will not be there to stop the car before it collides with another car. Your empty car is going to cause an accident. Now, let’s say, for argument sake, that not all the cars on that particular road are going to be empty when they crash. There may very well be some people that are not Raptured and are still in the car when your car hits them. What if they die in the accident?
I’m not trying to guilt-trip anyone, but your car was just in a fatal car wreck, and the other person is now in Hell. That is a scary thought. It’s not your fault they didn’t believe, but it weighs on you, doesn’t it? They are never going to get another chance to trust Jesus for their salvation and have just entered the realm of Hell for all eternity. It gives me chills just thinking about it.
Now I’m going to let you off the hook. The great Commission says that we are to preach and to teach. Nowhere in that phrase does it say that we are to make believers out of the world. Why? Because that is out of our control. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts the heart if the non-believer, just as it was when you felt that conviction and trusted Christ. You have neither the power nor the ability to make someone believe.
It is, however, your duty to tell everyone that you can about Jesus. We are commanded to preach the Gospel to every corner of the Earth. Sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to do. But God said to do it, and He will give you the strength to do what He has commanded you to do. And the next time you think no one is watching what you’re doing, remember this; would you want that action to be the last thing you do on this planet? Are you sure?
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