CHRISTMAS IN June!
MY HEART AND MIND ON THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS. THAT IS WHAT I AM WATCHING FOR THIS WEEK (again). I hope you are prepared and watching with me.
I've had another batch of "not feeling well" which manifest itself this time with fever and weakness. Unfortunately, both those things affected my ability to study the Bible. I have been sustaining myself each day with no more than a Psalm to think on a chapter or so and several sermons by others for which I am grateful. But today I was feeling better and strong enough to open up more than one Bible and really chow down on the Word of God, which felt really good to reset myself after having a fevered brain and too much YouTube.
I started with Luke 17, which is Jesus talking about these End Times but those few verses at the end of the chapter have always puzzled me. So I decided to lay aside my King Jimmie Bible and head for what was formerly Mom's New Living Translation. I was hoping too that Mom had left a few margin notes to guide me. No, she hadn't. But one thing that DID drop out of her Bible was a little pocket card with a poem on it from 1984 ! I haven't read it in years and years. It's a take on the "Night Before Christmas" classic, but I found it a bit depressing when I originally read it at Christmas back in the 80s. Therefore I have avoided reading it again until today when it fell into my lap, literally. Today I found it exciting. Even thrilling you might say and oh so very timely. I share it with you now.
Twas the Night Before Jesus Came
'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby in her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprung to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw open the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in his hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name:
When He said, 'It's not here' my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh. If only I had been ready tonight!
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and at the last call
We'll find the Bible was true after all!
(There was no author listed)
"For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation."
(2 Corinthians 6:2)
" 'I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.'
'Where, Lord?' they asked.
He replied, 'Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.' "
(Luke 17:34-37)
* I've been pondering these words of Jesus for decades. See if YOU can figure them out.
Speaking the Truth, with love,
Always, Laura-Lee
" If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
(Romans 10:9-10)
LINK to all of Luke 17 at Bible Gateway
