Going back to my earliest memories, anytime our church doors were open for services, we were there. Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, Wednesday nights, Vacation Bible Schools, and special Ministry sessions would find us at the service. The only exceptions were when extenuating circumstances came up. Because of this, some might believe we were among the most “religious” families around. (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)
Moving to the mid-1960s, my most pressing situation was to either join the branch of military service of my choice or be drafted into the U.S. Marines. I chose to join the U.S. Navy in hopes of getting a better education through a wider variety of options.
From that time on, my church attendance and Bible studies became sporadic, and occasionally I would attend different types of services rather than one particular church regularly. I was not concerned about my eternal destination as I believed that Jesus and God were real, and therefore, I considered my “religious self” was just fine.
And therein lies the problem with many different people today. When I was in my mid-forties, one day I was at home alone and I had a strong thought enter my mind, which simply stated, “If I were to die today, am I truly saved?” It was strong enough that I literally called out to Jesus to show me what I needed to do to get right with Him.
First, I bought a new Bible in a translation I could understand. In this case, it was a New American Standard Version. For the first time, I read through God’s word from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, and afterward realized just how lost I had been.
Next, I got an English Standard Version Study Bible, and after even more reading, discovered the ABCs of Salvation in Romans 10:9-13. Also, I learned that no amount of good deeds or donations would ever save me; only the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father as a “gift” for receiving and accepting His Son, Jesus the Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Another observation is that Jesus didn’t wait until a particular day or time to “teach” large and small groups what they needed to know about how to be saved. My belief on this is it’s good to worship our Lord and Savior on any day that ends in “Y”!
Our Triune Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – has provided everything we need to have an eternal home in Heaven. It is truly an individual choice, and the Father will force no one to make it. All who do receive and accept Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior will also have the Holy Spirit come to live within them. This is found in numerous verses in both Old and New Testament books.
The significance of this is that a day is coming when the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way to allow the ultimate antichrist to come forth. That is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, and this will signal the beginning of the 7-year tribulation/wrath period of time.
Our Heavenly Father cannot and will not lie, as given in Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 6:18 and Titus 1:2. He gave us the promise that true believers will be kept from going through the wrath in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10. When the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, all whom He indwells must be removed as well. That event is described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. It will be the taking up of all believers to meet Jesus in the air, and this is commonly known as the Rapture.
At the same time, all who have not truly received and accepted Jesus as their Savior will enter that terrible time when the antichrist comes out. It will absolutely be the worst 7-year period of time this earth has experienced so far.
Those who will be left behind will include a group who believes as I did before I truly called out to be forgiven and saved. They thought they had done all that was needed to go to Heaven, but they fall under 2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having “itching ears” they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from the truth and wander off into myths.”
Our Savior, Paul, Peter, John and others gave warnings of what would be happening near the end of this age. False prophets and antichrists will be putting out their deceptive words, and numerous people will believe the lies. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus told of the two paths available, and that more would be on the wide worldly way leading to eternal condemnation than on the straight and narrow way leading to eternal life.
Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” We are seeing this unfold more and more with each passing day.
Even though prophecy is being fulfilled rapidly, let no one try to say exactly when the Rapture will take place. Our Heavenly Father is not bound by our time, as He created it for us (Genesis 1). He knows the exact day, hour, and even second that this will occur (Matthew 24:36).
The best plan is to make sure you’re ready beforehand, as no one will be able to call out to be saved fast enough when the Rapture actually takes place. “Twinkling of an eye” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 has been calculated by experts as less than 1/100th of a second.
Admit or confess you’re a sinner as we all are; Believe that Jesus is a true part of the Triune Godhead Who came to this earth as a human and provided the perfect sinless blood sacrifice at Calvary that could be accepted by the Father; and Call out to the Savior to forgive you and provide an eternal Heavenly Home for you. (A-B-Cs of Salvation)
There are “scoffers” who say the Lord is not coming as it’s all just a myth. However, 2 Peter 3 explains that the Lord isn’t slow in coming for us but is most likely giving us time to call out and be saved. Remember, God never goes back on a promise, and He cannot lie.
Today would not be too early to call out and become a part of the Savior’s precious flock. There is no guarantee you’ll have the same opportunity tomorrow.
Maranatha! – Come Lord Jesus!