I had planned to write this blog post first thing this morning. But it seemed as if God was wanting me to hold off and wait a bit. So, I cleaned up the kitchen instead and grated zucchini to put away in the freezer. Then I headed off to clean the bathrooms.
I was worn out after cleaning the bathrooms, so I decided to lay down for a quick power nap.
I lay down on the couch, and within five minutes was drifting off to sleep … when it seemed I heard a key turn in the lock of the front door … and it seemed as if someone came in.
Groggily I lifted my heavy eyelids … and it seemed as if the fuzzy form of my daughter was standing there in the entryway.
What?!? Is that for real??
For a long moment I just stared dumbly at the fuzzy form standing there, trying to figure out if it really was my daughter or if hubby had come home … before finally waking up enough to reach for my glasses so I could actually see.
Lo and behold! … it was my daughter! My beautiful daughter … and she was holding a Starbucks Carmel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino … for me!
What a total surprise!
I was immediately embarrassed and apologetic for being so unkempt. I was still in my grubby cleaning clothes, I was still sticky and sweaty after cleaning the toilets, and my hair was a disheveled mess.
But my daughter didn’t care. She was beyond delighted that she had surprised me! She gave me a big hug and handed me my yummy Frappuccino treat.
The title of today’s blog post is: “When you least expect it … ”
My daughter came … with a treat for me! … when I least expected it.
This is exactly what it will be like when Jesus comes back again!
Jesus will come on a day, and at an hour when we least expect it!
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” – Matthew 24:36
And … when Jesus comes, he will have rewards with him! (just like my daughter came with a treat for me!) That’s what Jesus’s coming is going to be like!
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me.” – Revelation 22:12
The verse which immediately popped into my mind when I jumped up to greet my daughter, disheveled and all, was this: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” – Ephesians 5:14
When Jesus comes back, how will he find us?
When Jesus comes back will he find us spiritually “alive” and actively working for His kingdom? Or will Jesus find us spiritually “dead” … living for ourselves, and our own enjoyment & comfort?
The thoughts for this post which I originally intended to write first thing this morning also had to do with waking up from sleep … and being suddenly taken off guard.
The previous day I had also lain down for a quick power nap.
That day I had just awakened from my nap and stood up to continue on with my day, when suddenly … I was taken aback by a tremendous thundering roar! directly overhead!!
It’s the Blue Angels!!!
My immediate ‘blink’ reaction was to drop everything and run as fast as I could to try to see them. But I knew they were already long gone.
That’s what it’s going to be like when Jesus returns!!
It’s going to be as sudden as the sudden startle of a Blue Angel fighter jet roaring directly overhead! There’s nothing quite like a fighter jet flying directly overhead!
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16
The Blue Angels are in town for SeaFair this weekend. One of the great joys of the Blue Angels being in town is that when they do their performance over Lake Washington, the jets swing out wide over the surrounding area as they prepare to get in position for their next formation demonstration. Oftentimes, this set-up for their next run brings them over our area.
When I hear the Blue Angels screaming by overhead, it always brings a sudden rush of excitement and a thrill of joy! I’m always so excited about the chance to see (and hear) the Blue Angels! (as I’m typing this right now, I can hear them out there flying around somewhere nearby!)
However … if I were living in a war-torn part of the world, where fighter jets went screaming by overhead intent on dropping bombs … the sound would be one of utter terror for me!
This same thing is true when Jesus comes back!
For those who love and follow Jesus Christ, his return will be one of sudden joy! Just like my daughter’s sudden arrival was one of great joy! And she brought a wonderful surprise treat with her!
“The Lord himself 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
But … for those who do not love and follow Jesus, his return for them will be like hearing a fighter jet in a war-torn area. These people who reject Jesus will be facing Jesus with fear … for Jesus will be coming as judge, to mete out righteous judgement against sin.
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him … and all the people of the earth will mourn because of him.” – Revelation 1:7
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Matthew 24:44
