Our weather forecast was calling for snowmageddon!
Hubby’s and my weather apps were warning about snowmageddon!
Our Ring Neighborhood alerts were warning of snowmagddon!
Alert! Warning! Take precautions! Be prepared!
As I sit here typing this, a gentle snow is falling outside. It is peaceful. It is beautiful. All we received was a light dusting … just enough to be pretty, but the roads are still clear. Snowmageddon did not come.
I can’t help but think of Jesus’s return. Jesus is coming. The Bible tells us that on a day when no one knows, Jesus will leave Heaven and come back to Earth again.
“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Luke 12:40
“For the Lord himself [Jesus Christ] will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Just like the urgency and importance with which our weather alerts were warning everyone to be aware and prepared for snowmageddon, so also it seems that we all should have every bit as much urgency to be ready and prepared for Jesus’s coming!
Why??
Why is there urgency and importance to be ready and prepared for Jesus’s coming back to the Earth again??
Because when Jesus comes back to the Earth again, it will be to judge the Earth! That is a terrifying thought!
Everyone on the Earth who has not accepted Jesus’s substitution of taking the wrath of God for our sin in our place … everyone who has rejected Jesus’s gift of salvation will pay the penalty for their sin themselves. They will suffer God’s wrath for their sin. They will be judged for their sin and thrown into the Lake of Fire forever and ever … as penalty for their sin.
“For as the lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man [Jesus Christ]. … At that time the Son of Man [Jesus Christ] will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
“And He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” – Matthew 24:27, 30-31, 42
“On that day his [Jesus Christ] feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. … Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” – Zechariah 14:4-5
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True [this is Jesus Christ]. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. … His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him.” – Revelation 19:11-13
“Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. … There came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. … The great city [Jerusalem] split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.” – Revelation 16:16-19
As the snow has been falling gently off and on all day, and as I have been doing my tasks around the house today, I have been thinking about how snowmageddon did not come … but for sure Jesus is coming!
We don’t know when … but Jesus is coming!
Are we ready??
Are we prepared??
Have you accepted Jesus’s substitution of taking the wrath of God for you, in your place, for your sin?? Jesus sacrificed his own life and willingly accepted having God’s wrath poured out on himself … so that you wouldn’t have to. Jesus died in your place for your sin … so that you wouldn’t have to suffer forever punishment and judgement in the Lake of Fire. All you have to do is receive his free gift of salvation.
Are you ready to meet Jesus, your Creator, face to face??
Are you ready for Jesus to come back again??
I have gratefully accepted Jesus’s substitution for my sin! I have gladly accepted Jesus’s free gift of salvation, so that I will not have to suffer the wrath of God. I am so grateful for Jesus’s love and kindness which he has shown to me!
I am ready to meet Jesus, my Creator, face to face!
As I was putting away the folded laundry this afternoon, my eyes came to rest on mine and hubby’s special caps we have gotten on our different vacations. So many wonderful memories are represented in those caps. My mind travelled back to the fun times hubby and I have had in Hawaii and in other places while wearing those caps. Then my eyes came to rest on a special handwoven keepsake basket hubby got for me in Kauai.
The thought flickered through my mind: “Am I ready for Jesus to come back?? If Jesus came back right now, would I be sad to leave behind these special things?? These special things which represent the fun times hubby and I have had together.”
“Would I be sad to leave behind my home in the forest which I love so much, surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Cascade Mountain Range, and forest wildlife wandering through?? Am I ready for Jesus to come back?? Or would I not want to leave all of this behind??”
As soon as these thoughts flitted through my head, the Holy Spirit immediately prompted me to think of the most wonderful place I could imagine relocating to.
Right away I thought of Hawaii!!
Balmy breezes … the most brilliant azure blue waters! … bright sunshine … perfect temperatures … peace … beauty … tranquility. Oh, and of course if it was the most wonderful place ever then Hubby would be there! For sure! And, if this is what the Holy Spirit is prompting me that Heaven will be like, then of course my kids will be there! Oh the fun we will have together!
And our dearest, closest friends! Oh the laughter! Oh the joy! And you know … this is only the best that I can imagine. The glories and wonders and joys of Heaven are going to be far beyond what I can try to imagine!!
Come to think about it … if I had to give up everything I have right now and relocate somewhere else … as in … if Jesus were to come back right now and I am swept up off this Earth into Heaven, then Oh Yeah!! Oh Yeah, for sure! I wouldn’t be sad to leave all this behind at all!
I’m ready! For sure I’m ready!
Heaven is going to be awesome!! Heaven is going to be amazing!!
I’m ready Jesus! Come back any time you want! I’m ready and waiting!
“He [Jesus Christ] who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’
Yes! Come, Lord Jesus!” – Revelation 22:20
