For informational
purposes, I want my Courage Today friends to know that I was in Vancouver, BC,
Canada all last week(May 20-26). I was an instructor in a week-long leadership
class for pastors and lay leaders. The pace was intense and exhaustive. I apologize
for not posting any devotionals during that time.
"For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."
(1Thessalonians 4:16 NKJ)
Recently, my 5-yr
-old grandson had a conversation with my wife. Grant: "G-G, I want to go
to heaven with Jesus." Bobbie: " Well, that's good. Have you asked
Jesus to come into your heart? Are you saved?" Grant: "Yes, I have.
And he is coming back when he blows that trumpet. When will he blow that
trumpet, G-G?" Bobbie: "Well, I don't know but it will be soon."
Grant: "I want him to hurry and blow that trumpet."
When Bobbie related
the conversation to me, I began to see the simple, child-likeness that Jesus
said we all must emulate. And I thought: "How many of us, more mature
Christians, want the Lord to hurry and blow that trumpet?"
It is a sad
commentary on the Church that the only time we hear our text passage read or
discussed is at a funeral. Yet, it is not a funeral message. It is a message of
exciting hope! Jesus is coming back! And his signal of arrival involves the
archangel's shout and the trumpet sounding.
I love the fact that
Jesus himself is coming. He won't wait on heaven's throne and send the angels
to gather us, he will lead them with a shout and a trumpet. Oh. I want to hear the trumpet! Don't you? We
may be both certain and confident that he is coming and will blow the trumpet.
The Apostle Peter
wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and
the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are
in it will be burned up." (2Peter 3:9-10 NKJ)
Oh, yes, the Lord is
coming! He will blow the trumpet! He said, "Surely I am coming
quickly." With the Apostle John (and Grant) I say, "Even so, come,
Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20 NKJ).
Dear Father, thank
you for your Scriptures that announce the return of your Son. Enable us with
present grace that we will watch and pray, always being ready, until you blow
that trumpet. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Are your ready for
the Lord's trumpet to blow?
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