Most people probably think that my first story was my never-to-be-published two-volume epic of King David. But the truth is, I wrote a very different story in my 9th grade English class, which my teacher kindly commended. I might have gotten the writing bug from her comments, but the rest of my English classes pretty much ruined my love of language for a while.
LATELY, IN THIS CLIMATE IN WHICH WE LIVE, I’M HEARING A RESURGENCE AMONG CHRISTIANS ABOUT JESUS’ RETURN FOR HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH.
IT ISN’T THAT PEOPLE JUST WANT TO ESCAPE THE WORLD.
CHRISTIANS HAVE ALWAYS LONGED FOR JESUS’ APPEARING.
IT IS OUR BLESSED HOPE.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE ALL THINGS MADE NEW. WE WANT TO SEE TRUE JUSTICE RULE THE WORLD, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS NOW UPSIDE DOWN TURNED RIGHT-SIDE UP.
The Rapture of the Church is the doctrinal name for this “catching away” of those who believe that Jesus is Lord. I read recently that it could coincide with the biblical Feast of Trumpets, today known as Rosh Hashanah.
Every generation of believers has held this hope of Jesus’ return during their lifetime. The apostle Paul held it and taught it. My dad many generations later, hoped to live to see it. Today, many believers see us living in the last days and that the Rapture could be very near. And it could. Because the blessed hope has always been imminent. Nothing is standing in its way that Scripturally needs to be fulfilled. Jesus is going to come and it could be soon.
Which leads me back to the title of this post. Back in that 9th grade English class, I learned a lot from a very kind teacher. She had us write stories as one of our assignments, so I wrote a story about the Rapture. (This was long before the days of the Left Behind series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye.)
Also at that time there was a popular Christian movie making the rounds in churches and other places called, A Thief in the Night. It would never happen today, but back then our English teacher worked with my youth pastor and got that movie into our school auditorium for the entire high school classes to see. My teacher liked my story better than that movie, but I think she was just being nice.
Regardless, with all of the talk about living in the last days, and so many verses in Scripture coinciding with the attitudes of so many in the world right now, I remembered that story and that old movie. I also remembered reading every one of the Left Behind books.
Why do I bring this up now? Why risk being labeled a lunatic or a fundamentalist or some other politically incorrect name? Why share the good news about Jesus in a culture that doesn’t want Him?
It’s simple really. I speak because I love. I speak because I want everyone to know my Jesus. To love Him as He loves them.
TO REALIZE THIS—WHAT IF THE BIBLE REALLY IS TRUE?
WHAT IF ALL OF THE PROPHECIES, WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN FULFILLED MEAN THAT THE REST OF THE PROPHESIES WILL BE FULFILLED TOO?
WHAT IF THE EVIDENCE, WHEN TRULY EXAMINED, REALLY DOES POINT TO A SAVIOR WHO WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN, DIED ON A CRUEL CROSS FOR OUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD?
WHAT IF IT IS TRUTH EVEN TO THOSE WHO DON’T WANT IT TO BE?
TRUTH ISN’T RELATIVE.
TRUTH WILL STAND WHETHER WE BELIEVE IN IT OR NOT.
And whether we want to admit it or not, there will come a day when the world as we know it will end. Could it happen because of COVID? I don’t think so. Could the world end because of all of our social unrest? I don’t think that will be the case either. These things are just signs to show us that we are not in control. They should get our attention though. If an unseen virus can make us deathly afraid and practically ruin our society and elude our attempts to contain or control it, then why do we ever think we can control the plans of an unseen God for the future of this world?
If you really want to know how things are going to play out at the end of the age—read the book of Revelation in Scripture. Read the book of Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel. Read Matthew 24 and compare it to Revelation. Read Paul’s letters of what times will be like, how people will act in the last days, and then ask yourself—are we seeing this today?
I thank God every day for one more day of grace to live and to pray for those who don’t know Jesus yet. Why? Because I believe He is coming again and it could be soon. In my lifetime? Maybe. Only God knows.
But I also know that we will not be able to defy God or His plans forever. (As we are doing today.) He is patient with us because He is not willing that any should perish but that every single one of us should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) That’s you. That’s me. I’m very glad He is so patient.
What happens though if one day you wake up and discover that the world has seen a seismic shift—that people are missing? Babies are missing. The world is in chaos—worse than it is now. That’s when I hope a post like this will find its way to those who might still be seeking. Or that those Left Behind books or the Scriptures I’ve mentioned will be found and read and that the blinders will come off and people will see the truth.
Terrible days will come. God promised they would and He never breaks His word. It’s actually a scary thought, though it doesn’t have to be. We can trust In Jesus and know that He will be with us, whatever comes, to the end of the age, as He promised. And many who are “left behind”, should that Rapture day occur in my lifetime or yours, will still have their lifetime to believe. They won’t have it easy, but they will have Jesus to help them through.
My first story took me to imagine the future. My current stories take me back to the past. And my life now is living in limbo as I wait for the day I won’t feel so isolated from family and friends and will have some idea of where life is going from here. Or where I hope it is going, though that can change in a moment.
I’m not afraid of what’s to come. But I do fear for those who don’t know Jesus yet. Because even before I wrote that 9th grade story, I wanted everyone I knew to know my Jesus. To love my Jesus. The way He loves me. The way He loves you.
May you see and know the real Jesus—the God of Scripture who came to give us life eternal. This world is not the end. Eternity is forever. And God wants all of us to spend eternity with Him.
~Selah
#endtimes #rapture #firststory #jesusiscomingsoon #godlovesyou
