“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (NLT) John 14:3
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus will come for the individual and in a coming that will be the end of history as we know it. The date and time for these experiences are “top” secret. The reaction of the disciples to news of Jesus’ departure was despondency, depression and dispiritedness. In John 14 where Jesus sought to comfort, motivate and encourage them he informed them that when everything is ready he will come and get them. In this he is reinforcing his authority over life and death. It seems to me that everything for everyone will not be ready at the same time.
Could that be the explanation for death of some persons that is referred to as ‘untimely”? That’s the view from earth. After the transition of Muhammad Ali a commentator said; “I did not feel it because it was a relief from all his suffering as the pitiful site of him lighting the Olympic Torch still lingers in my mind”. The reaction is usually different when it’s a young promising individual. It would make such a difference if we were always able to fully appreciate that Jesus determines when “everything is ready” and that he will not “come and get” us unless everything is ready. The wonderful thing is only Jesus knows when everything is ready because he is the one who is working (John 14: 2) to get them ready.
Jesus comes for us in a variety of ways and at various hours. Early on May 7, 2016 Gwendolyn (Dec. 26, 1916-May 7, 2016), a faithful “soldier of the cross”, woke up, went to sit on her usual chair with a copy of the 2016 Our Daily Bread in her hand. During her Caregiver preparation of her breakfast she had her usual special time and conversation with her friend of many years, companion and confidant, Jesus. The Caregiver heard a sound and went to look. It was the Our Daily Bread Devotional falling to the ground. On close examination she realized that Sis. Gwendolyn had transitioned. As she left this world the book fell. Rightly so! She had no more need of it. Jesus came and she was gone to be with Jesus. She left everything when Jesus came. What a wonderful thing that she was ready and waiting.
When Jesus comes there is nothing more important or valuable than to be with him. When he comes for us we go and we cannot take anything with us. Oh! By the way, the last though in the Our Daily Bread for May 7, 2016 says: “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling”. AMAZINGLY INSPIRING!!! Pity there was no CCTv to capture how it all unfolded. That’s “dying a good death” if there is every one.
It was Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778 who wrote ”. The fourth stanza says:
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
No comments:
Post a Comment