Comming Soon...

I recall hearing stories of immigrants coming to America many years ago.

Many were poor and could not afford to bring their whole family. The hope was to come here, get established, and send for their loved ones. Before telephones, emails and such, they had no way of communicating with their loved ones outside of written letters, and that could take months. There was a chance those letters may never have reached their families due to ship wreck or other unforeseen occurrence. 

These people did not know what to expect. All they knew was that they had heard of this wonderful land where anything was possible. It would seem that everyone could be rich as long as he was willing to work hard. For many, that was the case. These people were willing to risk their lives in a long and difficult trip across the ocean in a wooden ship, sealed with tar. I believe the smell would have been nauseating to many. I’m not exactly sure how the onboard bathrooms worked, but I’m pretty sure it was either a hole in a board hanging over the side, or a pot, or something else less sanitary than we have today. I don’t believe they had showers or baths, and potable water would have been in limited supply.

So why leave your family, risk death (from disease, starvation, pirate attack, or other less than desirable demise) and endure such a miserable voyage?

It’s simple, because they were willing to risk everything for something better.

But what about those left behind? For some, they never heard from their loved ones again. But for others there was great rejoicing when they were re-united on the shores of this great land.

So, why do I speak of this? Because we Christians are very much like these immigrants; we see heaven as that beautiful  and distant land of unfathomable beauty and opportunity. Some of us go on ahead while some of us remain behind until a future time. For those of us waiting for our time to go, we should never lose sight of the destination or the loved ones waiting there. Unlike these pilgrims, we won’t lose loved ones on the journey. We have the assurance that they made it, if they received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

   

The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words. -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

For those of us who have lost loved ones, there is hope.

If they received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior (and we as well), we will most definitely see them again.

You would not sabotage the boat your loved ones were on, so how can you not share the Gospel with your loved ones before they leave this life?

To hold back God’s truth is to drill holes in the bottom of the boat.

I want to paint a picture of hope, and promise; but I can’t do this without challenging you to consider the responsibility you have.  Dear friend, please share God’s truth with others. What if no one ever shared it with you? What if your loved ones drilled holes in the bottom of your boat?