Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Ready or Not

“And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send forth his angles with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.” Matthew 24:30-31

Each day I wake with anticipation and wonder, could it be Lord, could it be the day? Jesus I look forward to this day more than any other day. And though I wake with wonder I know there is work to be done. For the day that is coming is like no other. It will start out as an ordinary day but in the blink of an eye, like a thief in the night every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, every eye will see and every ear will hear. And there in that moment every soul will be still and the Lord will appear!

Number 1 on our list of things to crave-The Lord’s return

Can’t you just visualize it, yes I know that the actual moment is more than our minds can comprehend, but the vision that fills my mind as John, Paul, and Matthew describe it, is amazing.

This time He will enter just as the King of Kings should enter. Heaven will open and the trumpets will sound. There riding on the clouds will be the Son of Man clothed in white shinning with a brilliance of light. The blind will see and the deaf will hear, the cripple will walk and finally all will see the light.

As I look up at the sky and visualize how this moment will be I can hear the trumpets sound and I can see a vast host of angels leading the way. Then, there, riding down on the clouds I can see the Son of Man full of power and glory. At the first glimpse of His beauty and appearance I fall to my knees and cry Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty! And in an instant the dead will rise and those of us who remain who have called on Him by name, will be caught up in the clouds where we will remain with Him forever.

And just as John describes “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3-4

Don’t you long for that day, that day when the Lord will appear? The day when everything else will melt away and we are sitting at the foot of Jesus. The day when those nailed scarred hands reach out and grab our hands pulling us in as He embraces us and says, “Welcome home my child, welcome home my good and faithful servant. Today you will be with me forever.” Oh, Jesus hasten the day when we can come home, home to the place where Your glory dwells forever and ever. Where our bodies are made new and where all things are made clear.

Are you ready? Are you ready to meet your Savior face to face? I am and though I long for the day I know that while I am here I must help strengthen the weak, seek the lost, and spread the news about my Wonderful, Gracious God, who is full of abiding love.

Prayer: Jesus we wait in great expectation of the day You will come and gather all of Your children and take us home to be with You in glory. Hasten the day Lord Jesus, hasten the day. Amen