A Normal Day

Time stood still last Sunday morning in Asia as the worst earthquake in forty years shook our planet, cracking the ocean floor and creating a tidal wave three stories high that wreaked havoc on hundreds of cities and villages, and thousands of lives. The CNN website reported just an hour ago that the death toll has risen to 141,000 with thousands still missing.

The world stands in shock at the terrible devastation, but – if you can believe it – this pales in comparison to the shock that our planet will experience on another day that is soon to come. It will not be 150,000 or even a million missing – millions will literally disappear in a single instant of time. Until that millisecond, it will be just another normal day.

Matthew 24:37-42  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

The devastation caused one week ago by the earthquake and tsunami in Asia has been called “a disaster of biblical proportions.” Did God cause it? No, WE caused it – by mankind’s sin in the garden of Eden that plunged the earth under a curse!

Romans 8:22-23  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Sin not only caused the problems that are plaguing our world, but also all the problems that are in your life. But worse than that, sin is a separator between you and God, and it makes you unfit for Heaven. It prevents you from being included in the next great event on God’s calendar … the Rapture of the church.

If you have never dealt with the sin question in your life, you will be stand horrified and stunned on that day … because you had the chance to do something to prevent this eternal tragedy, but didn’t.

WHO IS GONE, AND WHERE DID THEY GO?

The Bride of Christ has been taken to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; they wore His Name and were filled with His Spirit; they lived lives of dedication to Him; they were an oddity to the world.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

They are gone to Heaven!  The best way to describe Heaven is by contrast to earth (Revelation):  no more night (22:5), no more curse (22:3), no more death (21:4), no more tears or pain (21:4).

The New Jerusalem’s walls are 212 feet thick and 1500 miles high.  The city would reach all the way from Maine to Florida and from the Atlantic Ocean to the state of Colorado.  If the main avenues were a mile apart and a mile above one another, there would be no less than eight million avenues!  If heaven contained rooms each a one-mile cube, it could contain 3,375,000,000 of them.  If we started with the time of Adam and spent one hour in each room we would by now have visited less than one quarter of them!  (G.T. Haywood)

SONG: Millions didn’t make it, but I was one of the ones who did!

WHO IS LEFT, AND WHY DIDN’T THEY GO?

The unsaved are left, the immoral and wicked as well as the good people who were not born again. Millions who were involved in false religions and cults around the world are left. Religious Christianity is left, millions of church members and pastors, Christian in name only.

Those who were genuinely touched by His Spirit but refused His Name are left (millions of them!).  Compare 1 Corinthians 12:3 with Matthew 7:21-23 – “spirit-filled believers” will be left behind!

1 Corinthians 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Thousands of leaders who preached and taught, sang and witnessed about the Rapture are left (virgins in Matthew 25 – all virgins, all expected Bridegroom, all slumbered – but five without oil!).

Thousands of Apostolics who refused to let go of their worldly desires or secret sin are left (Hebrews 6:4-6 – stagnation, not growing in holiness, falling away is like crucifying Jesus again!).

Hebrews 6:4-6   For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Saddest of all, many of those who had the opportunity to obey the gospel message that would have put them in the Bride will be left – including YOU, if you don’t get right before the Rapture occurs.

WHO IS GOING IN THE RAPTURE?

Those whose activities on earth are in harmony with the activities of Heaven! People who worship. People who pray. People who are holy. People who obey. People who love God more than anything.

If you were offered the choice of being a billionaire for one day then being tortured in jail for the rest of your life, or being tortured in jail for one day then being a billionaire for the rest of your life, which would you choose?  Obvious? Then why isn’t your eternal choice obvious?

Eternity with God is worth whatever I have to endure on the earth!

What would you like to be doing for Jesus on that “normal day” when He returns for His church? Got it? Then do it every day!!