For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV)This Tuesday as I was going to church the sky before me was beautiful. There were dark clouds with a ray of brilliant white coming through; surrounding these clouds were other cumulus clouds; you see a storm had just passed and the sun was trying to shine through even as the evening was arriving.
I began to meditate on 1 Thess. 4, where it speaks about the voice of the archangel with the trumpet call of God announcing the the Lord's entrance. For a brief moment there was fear in my heart. So I asked the Lord, "why am I sensing fear"? I believe the enemy of our soul sometimes tries to overshadow the Truth of God. The end of time, I'm sure will be something remarkable, leaving us probably without speech, perhaps trembling. I'm just thinking about me....I know my mind can not truly understand that entire truth...but it will be remarkable.
So why the fear? In this world death is always portrayed at gruesome, the final end, hope ceasing, sadness, a ripping of life that we can not get back; questions rise and we think there are no answers. Oh, let there be no mistake, it will be a time of celebration and sadness. The end of time truly will be a day of reckoning.
BUT, the Mighty Word of God says, that the dead in Christ will rise; rise to what? It's an eternal life, a passing from death to life (John 5:24). Jesus has come to impart life, life everlasting; a renewed-life to be lived forever in the Presence of God. He is always calling, always trying to reach the one who doubts he exists, the one who rejects his Word, the one who counts on his "good works", the one who has been deceived and blinded by the Enemy of our souls. He'll do whatever it takes, giving us opportunity to respond to His love. I know I did, He is my Savior! Jesus continues to reach out to us, the Word reads, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1
So, I told Fear, you must leave this car, I'm on my way to worship my God, the Redeemer of my Soul, who has promised me eternal life with Him. Glory to God! Our hope is in Christ and Christ alone. The Word says, in the same manner he left, he will return, (Acts 1). Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:2
God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com
