Thursday: Since you were talking about the end of time last night, this week's devotions will also go with that theme. At church, we often mention "the rapture." Although the Bible doesn't use the word "rapture," this is the name of the event that all Christians are looking for: this is when Jesus, our Lord, will appear in the clouds and come to claim us as His own. In Acts 1:9-11, Jesus (who has already risen from the dead) is taken up to heaven through the clouds. While the apostles watch Him leave, two men in white robes appear and tell them that Jesus will come back the same way that he left. The moment when He returns in the clouds to get His church is "the rapture."
Friday: So what happens once He appears in the clouds? Well, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us that Jesus will appear with a loud noise--the voice of an archangel, the trumpet call of God. When we hear His trumpet, the Christians who have already died will first meet Jesus in the sky and then living Christians will follow them. Does this mean that dead bodies will spring up from the ground and fly into the clouds? Maybe...but since most bodies decay pretty quickly, it will probably be the souls of dead Christians. Either way, I'm sure that it will be an amazing sight! The last verse of this passage (verse 18) says that we should read this verse to encourage each other--in other words, remind fellow Christians to hang on when things seem tough because the Lord is coming back for us!
Saturday: Why is the rapture important? The Bible warns us that when it is almost time for Jesus to return, there will be many false prophets or false messiahs (that is, people pretending to be a prophet or messiah). In Matthew 24, Jesus tells his disciples how to know when He will return. He says that there will be wars, famines, earthquakes, and great wickedness...does this sound a little like the evening news? He warns that people will claim to be the messiah (savior) but that we should NOT believe them. We will KNOW it is Jesus because he will come in the clouds with trumpeting angels. The rapture is our proof that it is the REAL messiah, not a false one.
Sunday: See you at church!
Monday: Since Jesus gave us the signs to look for when it is almost time for His return, does that mean that you can wait until He's almost ready to come back and then get saved? NO! In Matthew 24:36-44, Jesus said that even He doesn't know exactly when God the Father will send Him back to get the church. Only God the Father knows. Jesus warns his disciples (and us) that He will come back like a thief in the night--it will surprise us. Jesus reminds them that a house doesn't get robbed when the owner is watching and protecting it; a house gets robbed when no one is there to guard against intruders. It is our job to watch for Him and be ready when He arrives. In your prayers this week, ask the Lord to help you be always ready to meet Him when He arrives.
Tuesday: Okay, so what does this mean for you? First, this means that Jesus is probably coming back soon; when you read Matthew 24 on Saturday, did you notice how much Jesus's list of signs sounded like things that are happening right now? Second, you have to be ready when He comes; He's calling you now so that you will be able to meet Him in the clouds! So how can you be ready? Confess to God that you have sinned and ask Him for forgiveness, ask Jesus to cover your sins with His blood and be your savior, be baptized, and then go and sin no more. Jesus wants to be your saviour; in fact, He died so that you wouldn't have to be separated from God, forever condemned to Hell. As humans, we are imperfect, unrighteous, and enemies of God. But Romans 5:8-11 says that Jesus died so that we might be reconciled with God; we can be enemies no longer. Instead, we can become His precious children who will someday live with Him forever in heaven. Are you His?
Wednesday: See you at church!
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