1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
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.
We interrupt this broadcast to bring
you a special bulletin..........
If you live
in the
Northeast you
are probably doing the same
thing I am
doing....PREPARING. A storm is
coming and the effects of the wind &
water
can change the landscape we
live in, even
to the point of financial destruction and more devastating than
that, lives
can be snatched away
from us, lost and taken before our eyes.
I heard the spokesman, he
said be ready. The worst of it will
probably hit in
the evening or night time. Be ready! It's the
warning before the storm. It's the alarm that can echo, get up and leave; run
to safety; go to the
place of refuge; the
place
where
its safe.
So this morning I am
home along with my family. Last night the
Lord ministered to
me to be ready. I am currently packing an "emergency" bag.
I have never really done
this
before to the extent that I am
packing today.
Even as I am
packing the Lord is speaking. The Bible says a day is coming, the Day
of the Lord. It's a
time that will probably make "Sandy", this
hurricane look like a little sneeze.
The spokesmen have spoken. We hear about immanent events coming in the days of "old", warned and foretold by
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi and even reference throughout the
New Testament. I would like to say
I fully understand it all, but I don't; no more
than I fully understand how this massive "cloud" can bring such
predicted destruction.
All I know is the spokesman said, Be
ready!
Is it possible to get caught off guard? With
so many warnings, is it possible that some
will encounter danger; danger to
the point that lives will be "lost"?
God speaks, the Prophets speak, John the Baptist speaks, Christ speaks,
Peter, Paul and
even creation itself. There is One that is bigger than us; He has spoken creation into existence and after disobedience changed the "setting", if we listen carefully, the warning, the alarm is sounding; Be
Ready!
Will we get caught off guard? Paul says, But you,
brothers and
sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of
the light and children of the day.
We do not
belong to the night or to the darkness. So
then,
let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let
us be awake and sober. Thessalonians 5:4-6.
It's our Merciful God giving the warning to be ready. It's a warning clothed in love; his Name is Jesus. Can you
hear him
as he prays to the
Father; “Father, if you are willing, take
this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
(Luke 22:42)
You see, he not
only
sounds the alarm but has himself paid in advance for any "damage"
our lives would have and will experience.
It's a safety net for those
who
hear
and obey. It's a warning and a promise to the disciples; a
promise to us:
“I have told you these things, so
that
in me you may have peace.
In this world you
will
have
trouble.
But take heart! I have
overcome the world.” (John 16:33) He died, He rose,
He left?
They were looking intently up
into the sky as he was going, when
suddenly two
men dressed in white stood
beside
them. “Men
of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand
here
looking into
the
sky? This same
Jesus, who has
been taken
from you into
heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him
go into
heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
Yes, He is coming back...what a
promise. Be Ready, what a warning...what an expression of love.
So, I'm packing. Medicine, got it.....for this body
is breaking down
and it needs help. A sweater or
jacket, something to cloth
us against the elements of
the storm, check.
A little nourishment; something to
eat so that the body is strengthened. Water....oh how
I need this to live. Lastly, our passports.
The Bible says when Christ returns
he is taking me back to where
I belong. I am an ambassador here on earth (2
Corinthians 5:20), therefore no passport needed, check! I'm
here representing a
different place, a place where the Sovereign Lord reigns. I am an authorized messenger.
I'm visiting and ready to return when he calls.
Medicine for pain, no need. ‘He
will wipe every tear
from their eyes. There will
be no more death’ or
mourning or
crying or pain, for the
old order of things has passed
away.” (Rev.
21:4)
Clothing, He has me covered! I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul
rejoices
in my God. For he has clothed me with garments
of salvation and arrayed me
in a robe of his righteousness, as
a bridegroom adorns his
head
like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
Food & water; he
has been feeding me from the moment I took my
first birth on this earth. In his mercy he called me, forgave me
and changed me
forever. He has nourished me
in the Word and has sent his Spirit to refresh and teach me all things; and at the end he invites me to dine with him at a table. Before his departure he spoke
of his body
and the blood
that would be shed for
me; for
my
sin. The blood
that would "cover" me in the midst of
the storm.
“Truly I tell you,
I will
not drink again
from the
fruit of
the vine until that day
when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25) He
is waiting for me. The table is ready.
He has warned us. Though I may
have riches, they are
of no use. I see, yet I was blind. It's a
loving shout to wake up!
You say, ‘I am rich; I have
acquired wealth and do not
need
a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind
and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so
you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put
on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and
discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am!
I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, will come in and eat with that person,
and they with me.
(Revelation 3:17-20)
The Spokesperson has spoken: “Look, I am
coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will
give to each person according to
what
they have done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
First
and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
“Blessed are those who wash
their robes,
that they may have
the right to
the tree of
life and may
go through the gates into the
city. (Revelation 22:12-14)
"Sandy" is coming! The Great Day of the
Lord
is coming! Both
lead to destruction if we
don't heed
the
warning of the Spokesman.
God bless you!~Liz www.lizrod.com
