The Rapture – Are We There Yet?
I remember when I was a child, every summer my parents would take us to Atlantic City, NJ. Of course, that was when it was still a family-oriented vacation town. No Casinos, just a huge stretch of shimmering white sand with a boardwalk that seemed to go on forever.
In the early mornings, we would rent bicycles before breakfast. I loved the feeling of that salty air hitting my face and blowing through my hair. I can still hear the cries of the seagulls as they soared above our heads. Of all the sights, smells and sounds, the roar of the ocean waves was by far my favorite.
Are We There Yet?
Each year, the trip from Maryland to the beach took about four hours. My dad would always drive. We all brought our pillows to catch a nap – Dad insisted that we leave around 5 a.m., so a nap was much needed.
I remember waking from a nap and asking my parents, “Are we there yet?” I’d see the smiles on their faces as my mom would say, “Not yet – lay your head back down.”
Four hours felt like four days! We all anticipated the fun we would have. When my parents knew that we were getting close, they would open the car windows so that we kids would get that first whiff of salt air.
Then we could hardly contain ourselves!
The Rapture
This morning, as I thought about how we are desperately waiting to hear the trump of God and the shout of our Lord Jesus when He finally comes in the clouds to take us to be with Him, my mind traveled back to my childhood and the yearly trip to the beach.
I realized that when I think about that glorious day, I feel like a child again. I also realized that the Lord delights in this “childlike” anticipation of the Rapture.
Childlike Faith
“And said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 18:3).
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Luke 18:17).
“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-16).
“And said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read,’ ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” (Matthew 21:16).
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
I think that it is very clear that the Lord delights in our childlike yearning for the Rapture! Did you know that there is a special reward in heaven for those who love His appearing?
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
I believe that Jesus smiles when He sees us yearning for His Appearing.
But I also think that He wants us to rest our weary heads on our pillows, and yes, keep watching and waiting and asking, “Are we there – are You coming soon for us?”
But most of all I believe that He doesn’t want us to fret when we see the evil all around us. He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to believe Him.
And He wants us to comfort one another:
“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 Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, 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 to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1Thessalonians 4:15-18).
Don’t Listen to the Scoffers
“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’” (2 Peter 3:1-4).
To those scoffers we must say:
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).
Are we there yet? Is He coming soon?
He will come at precisely the right moment and we must trust Him!
From “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Casting Crowns Singing “Tis So Sweet” <click here
A Sermon For Sunday < Click here
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!
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