WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO

I Was Just Thinking About - - -

As the floodwaters were rising in South Carolina, choices had to be made. Primary to that choice was for a person or persons locating to a safe area. One older woman as she was leaving her apartment summed up the experience and choices in a simple and poignant phrase: “It's strange leaving everything behind. We have a niece and her family that experience knee-deep water inside their home and waist-high water outside. A kindly woman who had extra bedrooms and invited them into her home. Because of their pets, two of the children and the pets were provided housing elsewhere. I doubt that many of us (or any of us) have our treasures and the things we would want to save neatly in place in the event of a required evacuation. When all is said and done, my wife would want to save the baby pictures of our children if at all possible. While they seem to be easily accessible, it is not always possible to achieve that desire. When it’s time to go, most of life’s accumulated possessions that are dear to one’s heart will have to be left behind.

That which is true in terms of the physical, also has a spiritual application. Jesus indicated this clearly on different occasions. In Luke 10:3-12, Jesus instructed His disciples regarding ministry objectives and protocols. He stated: “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, Peace to this house…Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered…If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you…tell them…The kingdom of God is near you. But if you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into the streets and declare, Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.” The idea being shared with the disciples is to guard them from being preoccupied with temporal things and the accumulation of “stuff” to which one might become attached.

When Jesus was speaking of the days leading up to His coming again, He references The Abomination of Desolation, Matthew 24:15-28. Jesus is giving instruction about when it’s time to go. He stated: “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak…Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short…For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect…So, if they say to you, Look, he is in the wilderness, do not go out. If they say, Look, he is in the inner rooms, do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man…”

Jesus is indicating that the day of His coming again cannot be calculated or predicted. The best one can do is to be prepared for His any moment appearing and to be among those who are caught up to be with Him. His words are clear in Matthew 24:42-44, “Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes. And know this, that if the master of the house had known in what time of night the thief comes, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into. Because of this, you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes in that hour you do not expect.” Are you ready and prepared for when it’s time to go – when that day and hour occurs? You can and should be as you place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for your redemption, justification and salvation. Consider these things with me.