Dont Worry, Be Happy
By Wesley Combs
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. 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as
a thief in the night. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:2
The word RAPTURE is derived from the Latin word raptus, which means "caught
away" or "caught up." Many people have mixed feelings about
the rapture. To some it is seen as the event that will call them to there
eternal home in heaven, while others see it as an event that will cause
chaos and mass confusion. It is easy to think of the rapture and be afraid.
Human minds are not capable of handling thoughts of a God so powerful
that he comes and takes all of his people to heaven with him in the twinkling
of an eye. Just try to imagine what a state of emergency the world will
be in when that many people simply disappear into thin air. There will
a huge number of car wrecks. What if the pilot of a plane carrying 300
people was a Christian that was called up with no warning? There would
be a huge death toll from these events alone; a death toll full of people
that were not called up to be with God.
We have all seen the news talking about the events taking place in the Middle East. We have all read that when all nations turn against Israel, the rapture will soon take place. My pastor, Brother Clark has even said that it will take place within the next five years. There are prophecies coming true before our very eyes each day. "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." MATTHEW 24:33. It is obvious that we are living in the end times.
Ever since you have believed the truth, you have heard about the rapture. When I was in my teens, I believed it, but was never worried about it happening in my life time. Over the last couple years I have came to realize that indeed we are in the last days. Upon this realization, I had a million thoughts racing through my head. I had always wanted a successful career, maybe one day get married, buy a house and start a family. Why did I have to be in the generation that would be caught up in the rapture? It was almost like I was getting cheated out of the life I had wanted to one day live. I knew that the thoughts I were having were foolish. I prayed that God would give me wisdom and understanding for the events to come. Then I remembered that all things I know of this life will pass away anyhow.
Will I ever
get my career? Maybe not, but I will have the job of sitting at my saviors
feet and worshiping him for an eternity. Will I ever get to buy my own
house? Maybe not, but I will be given a mansion, with a solid gold drive
way. Will I ever start a family? Maybe not, but I will live forever with
my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Will I ever get to see Lewis box
Tyson? Maybe not, but I will get to see my savior face to face.
We should not think of the rapture and be afraid, we should rather rejoice
at the thought of finally going home. True, things will be ugly down here
after the rapture takes place, but remember that we will not have to suffer
these things. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 THESSALONIANS
5:9 God has a perfect plan. We can never understand the way that our
God works, but we can trust in him for all things, and remember that all
things must pass through him before they come to us. When in doubt or
afraid, he tells us to be still and know that he is God. 2 TIMOTHY
1:7 says "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power; and of love; and a sound mind."
As a member of the generation that will get to experience the second coming, I count it a blessing. Every generation since The Day of Pentecost has believed that they would be the generation to get see it come to pass. We are the generation that will see it! Yes, these are evil times, but they are exciting times to Gods people. We have nothing to be afraid of, soon we will be going home! Lord bind our church together in one mind and one accord that we will not fall in these last days. Strengthen us as a whole. Help us not to doubt or fear, but to trust in you always. Grant us an understanding of the times we are living in.
There is no time to waste. We all have lost loved ones we want to see brought in. Its time to go to work. Maranatha, come Lord.
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