As I drank in the view, my heart longed to see Jesus suddenly appear in the clouds for me. Oh, to soon hear those words, "Come up hither!"
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thessalonians 4:13-17)
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:51-57)
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither . . . " (Revelation 4:1)
Some do not believe in the Rapture when Jesus will take his people to Heaven. His people are those who trust in Him alone for salvation, for forgiveness of their sins. I believe in the Rapture with my whole heart. I know it will take place because it is clearly foretold in the Bible, God's Holy Word. There is coming a day when I will finally get to see Jesus' face, the One Who died to redeem ME!" Oh, precious thought!
What makes me so sure that I'll be Heaven-bound at the Rapture? Because I know that my salvation does not depend on me, on anything that I have done or not done. The work has already been done! Jesus paid the penalty of my sin for me because He knew that I'd never be able to pay it myself. What love!
So the big question is: Are we to do good works? Are we to live clean, holy lives? Yes, of course. But not to earn salvation. Why try to pay for something again when it's already been paid for? Jesus offers life freely to those who will simply place their full and complete trust in Him for salvation. I strive to live a righteous life simply to show my love and thanks for the One Who paid that awful price for me. It is true that I'll never be able to thank Him enough, but I want to try to make Him smile every day that I live.
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13-14)
* Fried chicken, ranch potatoes, and corn
No comments:
Post a Comment