He's coming back...Where is your eternal destination?

 

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Have you ever had a crazy dream? One that just doesn't make sense? One where you are suddenly transported from one place to another? One where things are so vivid that when you awake you are still there? One so real that you sense that maybe God is speaking to you?

Last night as I slept I did have a dream. Not one of those normal crazy dreams. This one was very real and was very vivid even when I awoke. This dream made sense. This dream left me asking God many questions.

My family and I were looking outside through a set of double glass doors. We were watching the sky as the clouds looked very odd. Colors very vivid. Suddenly there in the sky a bright light and a man in the clouds. I remember saying "Jesus...you've come back!" The feeling of peace I had was nothing like I have ever known. As I stood there waiting to be caught up with him, these thoughts flooded my mind...Do I get to go? Have I done all that I should do? Did I truly surrender my life to Him? Did my life reflect Jesus?

My one fear is I or those I know and love will be left behind! Fearing an eternal life of pain and suffering...Hell! For the Christian...Earth is as bad as it will ever get. For the Non Christian...Earth is as good as it will ever get!  Which one do you choose? If the Christian is wrong....then they'll never know! If the non-Christian is wrong...then they'll never know the peace of eternal life! With all that is going on in the world today...our eternity should be the number one thing on our minds. Are you watching ? Are you waiting? Are you ready? Which do you choose? Life is fragile...it can end in an instant! Please don't be left behind ! If you're not sure...ask God to show you. He is always faithful!

As I awoke this morning my question to my Lord....You're coming back soon aren't you?

Matthew 24:29-42 (New King James Version)

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Parable of the Fig Tree

  ³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it^[a] is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³⁶ “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,^[b] but My Father only. ³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸ For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴² Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour^[c] your Lord is coming.

Earthquake! Natural Disaster...Everything you own gone!

We all have heard by now of the devastating disaster in Japan. In an instant everything turned upside down...gone. Many lives lost....personal possessions destroyed ! You just never know until that very moment when we ourselves could be touched by disaster. Please keep the many people of Japan in your prayers.

I have often joked....I wish I could burn everything and start over! I guess it would be easy to accept such a disaster if I knew about it beforehand. As I listened to the news this morning and saw the devastation, my statements in the past seemed mindless. I have no clue what it is like to lose EVERYTHING! Would I really want to? If I did...How would I start over? Could I start over? We all think we have an idea. Never realising, we just don't know until faced with such trauma how we will react or how much losing would entail!

Many years ago we moved to Memphis Tennessee. Moving from a state where the only disaster I had experienced was tornadoes...living on the New Madrid fault line scared me. Needless to say we prepared and discussed what our plan would be in case of an earthquake. For three years this possibility stayed in the back of my mind. For three years our earthquake bag sat in our hall closet. Have you ever heard the saying...Prepare for the worst and expect the best? We prepared and expected the best possible outcome....NO Earthquake!

The truth is...None of us are immune from disaster. At any moment your world could turn on a dime...Life is fragile! If and when it does...Are you prepared? Where are you going to run? Where are you going to lean? Who is going to bring you comfort? Where is your eternal destination? I have had many very small "disasters" in my life. I have lost many things and many loved ones. The place I have chosen to run, hide and lean....Jesus! He is my comfort and shelter! He restores and heals...He brings life back when all seems lost.

As Japan "starts over" and rebuilds, I pray that they will find shelter under the wings of the almighty Father.

Psalm 91 (New King James Version)

Psalm 91

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

 ¹ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 ² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
       
 ³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler^[a]
         And from the perilous pestilence.
 ⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
 ⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
         Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
 ⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
         Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
       
 ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
         But it shall not come near you.
 ⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
       
 ⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
         Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
 ¹⁰ No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
 ¹¹ For He shall give His angels charge over you,
         To keep you in all your ways.
 ¹² In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
 ¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
       
 ¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
 ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
 ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”

....Praying for those who are going to be the hands and feet to the people of Japan !