Up, Up and Away

In one of the most remarkable passages of the New Testament Paul writes about the rapture, the “catching away” of the church, when Jesus returns.  Here is what Paul writes: “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.”  Some were questioning Paul about the status of those believers who had already died when Christ had not yet returned.  Would they miss being with Jesus?  Paul answers with a clear, “No, they haven’t missed the party!”  The dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive will join them in a giant “up, up and away” experience.  As miraculous as all of this is, the key phrase is in verse 17:  “and thus we shall always be with the Lord”. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again.  A good test to see if you are truly a Jesus follower is the simple question, “Do I want to be with Jesus?”  If you don’t want to be with Him here on earth, in church, in prayer, in the study of His words and deeds, do you really want to be with Him in heaven?   Heaven isn’t a family reunion.  It isn’t all the time you want to enjoy whatever hobby or sport you like.  It is time in the presence of Jesus.  Only those who are “in Christ” will get divine “anti-gravity” boots and only those “in Christ” will experience heaven.  I pray that you are “in Christ”.  If you don’t really want to be with Him now, I pray you ask Him why and if I can help, please contact me.