JESUS SPEAKING
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man (Jesus Christ): For they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all […] even so will it be in the day that the Son of man (Jesus Christ) is revealed. In that day, he who is on the housetop and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you in that night there will be two men in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together; the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field; the one will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17: 26 – 27, 30 – 36)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
The event Jesus describes in this scripture is known as ‘the rapture.’ In a moment, in the blink of an eye, God will gather up His faithful believers from around the world before pouring out His wrath upon the earth. Co-workers, relatives, friends, and even complete strangers will vanish in an instant. Those who are left behind will face God’s judgments. How then can we be prepared for the rapture? By cherishing eternal rewards more than worldly possessions (wealth, homes, jobs, belongings, etc.) Jesus asks us to “Remember Lot’s wife;” a woman who was ill-prepared for God’s deliverance. In the Old Testament she and her family were led out of the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah just prior to its destruction. Sadly, she disobeyed God’s command by turning around to look back upon the city with fondness and affection. As a result she was turned in to a pillar of salt.
Like Lot’s wife, many throughout history have mistakenly loved worldly possessions more than their own lives. One day while driving with my Dad through the town where I grew up, we passed by a certain building. He informed me that decades earlier the building had caught on fire and that the owner had foolishly rushed in and went to the basement to collect some of his valuables. Unfortunately he became trapped inside. He desperately tried to escape through a basement window but it was too small for him to fit through. Unable to help, onlookers could do nothing but watch as he perished in the flames. He died because he valued his possessions more than his own life.
Similarly, some individuals today value their belongings more than their eternal lives. Those who take great comfort in their worldly possessions are often ill-prepared for the coming Kingdom. As believers we must be ready for ‘The Rapture;’ an event that could occur at any moment. To be completely prepared is to love God more than anything else. We must make truth more important than trust funds and make people more valuable than possessions. As our values change we will come to embrace the rapture and look forward to it with great joy and remarkable anticipation.
“Lord Heavenly Father, help us to value the things that are truly important. Prepare our hearts and minds for the rapture; may our thoughts be continually focused upon Your coming Kingdom. Strengthen us by the power of Your Holy Spirit that we might accomplish your will and bring honor and glory to your Holy name. We love you Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 