Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, November 15, 2018

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-11-15-2018

This is devotional thought number 15 in our devotional series, “The Protest is Not Over: Transformation is Key to Reformation.”

“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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18).

This is good news! The Lord is going to descend. The Lord is going to shout. The archangel is going to blow God's trumpet! All of God's sleeping saints will wake up! What a day of rejoicing that will be! Here's my question: Is it even possible for such a momentous occasion to be a secret? I mean really; is it even possible for people to miss all of these simultaneous blessings? And this is not to mention the fact that the people of God that are alive on earth when He returns will be caught up with the resurrected saints. That definitely won't be a secret. Are you looking forward to that day? Are you looking forward to the day that Jesus will return? I am.

One of the things that many of our brothers and sisters in certain churches teach that may be disturbing to some, is the idea that when Jesus returns He is going to secretly catch away some people and leave others to fend for themselves through a tribulation time. Nothing could be further from the truth. When Jesus said that He would come like a thief in the night, He was illustrating two points: Number one is that He will come suddenly. The Bible says that His coming is nearer than when we first believed. The second point He was illustrating was that those who do not know Him, nor are waiting for His coming will be surprised when He returns. Paul said that Jesus would not come upon His people unawares. Jesus taught that we can know whether it's going to rain or the sun will shine based on how the sky looks. He also taught that we can predict the change of seasons based on various elements in nature including how the trees look. So, even though we have no idea of the exact date or hour Jesus will return, we can know that His coming is near if we are being watchful.

Those who are looking forward to the day that Jesus will return recognize the signs that show that He's on His way. And when He does return, they will say “This is our God! We have waited for Him. He's finally here to save us.” Again, are you looking forward to the day that Jesus will return? Let me assure you in the name of the Lord, that when Jesus does return it will be no secret. You don't have to worry about Him coming while you're flying on an airplane and the pilot disappearing. You don't have to worry about riding on the bus when He returns and the driver disappearing. You don't have to worry about having a conversation with your spouse when He returns and your spouse mysteriously vanishing before your eyes. No! When Jesus comes, the Bible says that the islands will be moved out of their places; the dead in Christ will be raised; the lightning will shine from the east, even to the west; God's trumpet will sound; God Himself will shout; a fire will devour before Him; and to top it all off - every eye shall see Him. Yes, Jesus will return before most of us expect. True, Jesus will return and most people will not be prepared to meet Him in peace. Indeed, Jesus will return on a date that He...