One of the several reasons that the lost do not like to speak at length to a born-again believer is because we have what they call an apocalyptical view of this world, a death and destruction, fire and brimstone, wrath of God notion of how this world is going to come to a close, at least this dispensation, if you will, of it. It’s bad enough for them to find out that in the eyes of the Lord God they are sinners, that they are wicked in His eyes, (Psalm 37:38) that their works are as filthy rags, (Isaiah 64:6) and that if they do not repent and come to Christ for forgiveness of their sins they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, but when you throw on top of that this idea of judgement from God upon the whole planet, well, that kind of turns them off to say the least.
The days we are currently experiencing are assisting some in seeing the possibility that we many be speaking the truth to them, but the majority have still placed their confidence and faith in the leaders of their nations and the world. “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jer. 17:5) Another word they do not care for, cursed, it is a very personal word, superstitions, foreboding of evil portents.
We are quite aware of what is transpiring, we have the Book, but knowledge of the truth is not only not always accepted, but many times it is met with anger, we are talking after all of the complete end of everything that everyone knows, the death of billions of people, destruction on a scale that has never been seen before, save in some of the “end of the world movies,” and even then humankind finds a way to make everything better, but not this time. For the most part they see us as kooks, mentally unstable people with almost a desire to see these things evolve, to hope for these days, and that is the subject of this letter to you today, those that are continuously hoping and praying for the rapture.
You must stop, or at least be made aware of exactly what it is you are saying, because by continuously voicing these words, perhaps inadvertently on your part, you are praying for the great and terrible day of the Lord to begin. Definitely not something we are to be doing. “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.” (Amos 5:18) I want to go home as badly as you do, I want this wretched, sinful man dead and thrown away, I want true peace, I want to see the unspeakable joy on my wonderful wife’s face the first time, and every time after that, that she sees Jesus, but there is one thing I know for a fact, that will last forever, my home will always be there, my Savior will always be there, and I know just how short this life truly is. “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.” (1 Chronicles 29:15)
To not love your life means to love Jesus more, to struggle in this life is to know that you will never struggle again. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” (1 Peter 4:12) Yes, I really, really would like to be a part of the rapture, but that does not mean it occupies the majority of my thoughts, service and submission to His will here does, at least when I don’t get in my own way, as my wife aptly puts it. Trials and tribulations? Expect them. Temptations? Rejoice in them, but do not lose your way, do not let nearly every moment of your day be consumed with the terrible news of that day, think instead on the day to come, think on that eternal day, your first day in the kingdom, the day that will last forever, but do so while you are accomplishing His will in your life.
They may listen more intently when instead of focusing on the terrible day to come, if instead you focus on the day that will never end. “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
