DO YOU KNOW THE WORD?

Today I had lunch with a group of folks who discussed the perilous times and the possibility that Jesus Christ could return at any moment.
"What worries me," someone said, "is whether our children know enough about Jesus' return for the Redeemed to even know it will happen in a twinkling of an eye--like a thief in the night.

There can be no doubt about it. Christ's coming will be unexpected by most people. The Bible says, "For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3.)

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him" (Matthew 24:42-44).

Jesus told a parable about 10 virgins, five of them wise and five foolish. Five were ready when the bridegroom came, but five others were locked out even though they created quite a fuss.

He told about two men working in the field. One was taken and another left. Two were in bed. One was taken and another left."

Jesus kept saying, "Watch. You don't know what hour your Lord will come." (Matthew 24.)

The only thing we can take to heaven with us is other people, and I hope every member of our family, our extended families, our friends, neighbors, and others with whom we've come in contact are ready for His coming, whether it is the catching away of the church, or walking through the shadow of death.

We need fear no evil, if God is with us.

Do you know how to be ready? Romans 10:9 tells us, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation."

But there is more: obedience to God and His Word. Jesus told the rich young ruler to "Come. Follow me."

We aren't saved by our works, however. "It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but by His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:4-6.)

Yet, because when we are truly born again and are made new creatures in Christ, we desire to walk in holiness. As we grow in Him and the fruits of His Spirit are manifest in our lives such as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, our lives become different. Then when we receive the Gifts of the Spirit, they work through us in power to win and bless others.

There is so much to gain in knowing Jesus and His Word!

Made your reservation?

We just returned from a wonderful trip to visit family. Basic airfare from here to Florida was about the same price as filling up the gas tank in our van.
Cheap tickets usually go fast, and we had to make a quick reservation and pay immediately.
I'm ready for another trip, too. I made a reservation and my name was written down, according to the Book, but I don't know the date of "take-off."
The Commander-in-Chief gave some hints, "When you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; but the end will not come immediately. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places and famines and pestilences and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. They will persecute you...for my name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony."
AMONG THE INSTRUCTIONS is this: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that desolation is near."

Let me insert a comment here. This is the first time in history when perhaps the peace of the whole world hinges on Israel--a nation the size of New Jersey.

Another section of the instructions declares there will be distress of nations, men's hearts failing them for fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming in the clouds with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to happen, He said, "Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
THESE INSTRUCTIONS are from Luke 21. We have more detail in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
FOR THE LORD SHALL DESCEND from heaven with a shout and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
"Then we who are alive and remain SHALL BE CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
"Therefore, comfort one another with these words."

One more note: The tickets were paid for 2,000 years ago on the cross by Jesus Christ Himself.