And just in time for us to MOVE to our new house this weekend! Nothing like hauling your stuff across town on snow-covered roads!
When I woke up this morning, the ground was still bare. No snow. I questioned the reality of what was to come. Maybe it was all a farce after all.
As we watched the morning news, however, we were shown pictures and live video clips of Overland Park and downtown Kansas City. Sure enough, snow was falling! I guess it's only a matter of time before our own front yard is transformed into a winter wonderland.
I began to think about how people went crazy when they heard that a snowstorm was headed our way. Gas stations were full. Grocery stores shelves were empty. I am sure hardware stores had a hay-day as they sold every snow shovel and bag of ice melt in stock. A few people might have even gone a little overboard and bought snow blowers! Whatever the case may be, everyone and their brother wanted to be as prepared as possible for this nasty (and at the same time beautiful) winter weather. And when you have a week to go stir crazy waiting for the snow to fall...
But what about something else that we know for sure is going to happen? Are we doing all that we can to be prepared for that day?
Granted, we don't know exactly when this major event will take place, so we can't really stock up on bread and milk and ice melt to be ready. In fact, it's not weather-related at all, though we will see some pretty amazing and mind blowing acts of nature in the process!
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal,
and there was a great earthquake.
The sun became as dark as black cloth,
and the moon became as red as blood.
So, what day am I speaking of, you might want to know. The day (or night) of Jesus' return! It might seem like forever ago that He ascended into heaven, promising to come back one day and take all who believe in Him home to be with Him for all eternity. You might think that He's forgotten all about what He said as He floated behind the clouds. You might think He was just trying to make His disciples feel better as they grappled with the fact that He was seemingly deserting them. You might think, as I did with this snowstorm "Yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it!"
Oh, my dear friend, then it will be too late, I am afraid!
You see, unlike when the snow does start to fall (as it is right now, pretty heavily I might add) and you still have a chance to dash out to the store or gas station or wherever else you may need to go before the streets are impassable, when the trumpet sounds to announce Jesus has indeed returned, there is no turning back, there is no time to change your mind, there is no second chance.
We tell you this directly from the Lord:
We who are still living when the Lord returns
will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout,
with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth
will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.
This day IS coming. When, I don't know. We aren't told that. We can't look into a glass ball and foresee the day or hour of Jesus' return. In fact, only God the Father knows that information. Not even Jesus Himself has been made privy to this top-secret, yet highly anticipated and promised event!
However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen,
not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.
Only the Father knows.
BUT, you can be guaranteed it WILL happen!
Now concerning how and when all this will happen,
dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.
For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly,
like a thief in the night.
When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,”
then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin.
And there will be no escape.
And you can't wait to see it to believe it!
You MUST get ready NOW.
For this is one thing you do NOT want to miss out on, that I assure you.
Jesus told several parables, or stories, to help us better understand and more fully grasp the significance of His return and our dire need to be ready when we hear that trumpet blast and see Him descending from the clouds. He used various illustrations on several different occasions -- bridesmaids waiting for the wedding, servants looking for their master -- to get His point across, as it is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE and affects how you will spend all of eternity!
You can read the entire chapter of Matthew 25 to see what I mean. I've also selected this shorter version from Mark 13 for you to read right here and now:
The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
You, too, must keep watch!
For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—
in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak.
Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.
I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!
How you view this day and its events depends on which side you are on that day -- and there won't be any opportunity to change sides once that trumpet sounds. Again, you MUST DECIDE NOW!
On one side there will be sadness and despair like never experienced before. But, on the other, there will be happiness and great rejoicing, also like never before seen or heard anywhere at any time. So, please, I beg you, if you are on the fence or putting off a decision or thinking you'll just believe it when you see it, take time today while you watch the snow fall (whether in your own yard or on TV) and reconsider. Your eternity is at stake! Here, read one final passage to see what I mean and how very important this is:
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted
and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven.
He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire,
bringing judgment on those who don’t know God
and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with eternal destruction,
forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.
When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—
praise from all who believe.
And this includes you,
for you believed what we told you about him.
And as for that promised snow storm that hadn't even dropped a single flake of snow as of 6:30 this morning, well this is my view from my windows now at 8:10!
I guess we might just get that FOOT of snow that Gary Lezak on NBC predicted after all!!!!!
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