Jesus Is Coming! Are you Prepared For it?
It is very important for us to always keep in mind that this time on earth is only a moment when compared to eternity. I understand that it is important that we live life to it’s fullest and enjoy every bit of
living here on earth, but still we need to always have the proper perspective and think about eternity. The Bible declares in 2 Corinthians 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Our bodies will eventually die and return to the dust of the earth, but your spirit will never die. Always try to keep in mind that you have an eternal
spirit which is the real you that will live forever.
I watched the events of the Terrorist acts on television and my thoughts go back to the Day Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. It was a "Day in Infamy" and September 11,2001 has become another one of those
days. It seems as though even watching something that has been a real tragedy; there is also a real spiritual connection, God can use and teach a lesson on. As I was watching,the Spirit of the Lord began to
speak to my heart. The Lord said "look at all of the people in the World. They are watching the events of this great tragedy with greatenthusiasm but are not thinking about their eternity." I began to think
about this over and over again and soon enough I turned my attention and focused on the people. I watched the people and knew for sure that mostly all of them have lost loved ones.
While I was thinking about all of this I remembered the scripture found in James 4:14 "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." How true that was in this
case. Even though life may seem to be long; when we think back, years fly by that seem like only weeks or months ago. Then there is the consideration of how quickly one’s life can be snuffed out by our own
actions or of another...such as the events September 11th. Let us be more mindful of our spirit that’s eternal and less about our physical being which is but for a moment. I encourage you to think about your eternal spirit and where you will spend eternity.If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, pray and ask Him to come into your heart
and life. He promised to wash away every sin and make you a new creature in Christ.
Read these scriptures and meditate on them:
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Matthew 24:44 Jesus says "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
John 11:25-26 Jesus says "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
A Day in Infamy
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Tuesday, September 11,2001 may be another "Day In Infamy" as was Pearl Harbor, but there is another thing to consider here. Have any one of you
considered the significance of this day in the Realm of God? The month of the year is the 9th month and the day is the 11th. This also is the number to emergency and the emergency number to God. (Psalm 91:1) Let is look at what Psalms 91 says:
(1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2)I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (5)
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; (6) Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward
of the wicked. (9) Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; (10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. (14) Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high,
because he hath known my name. (15) He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my
salvation.
This is one of God’s final calls to Salvation and Redemption. There will be one more; but it will occur during the Tribulation. That Final call to Salvation will be during the most horrendous time in the history of this planet and many will suffer terribly. I would much rather have Salvation now than receive it during that time. I would rejoice that many would chose that same path as well. If you look at Psalm 91,verses
5-7 you can see how this relates to the events of Tuesday. I pray that many will heed God’s call to Salvation and Redemption. Now let us look at Psalm 9 and Psalm 71. Here we see that the Lord has shown us that we were foretold of such tragedies and hate and destrucion. We will persever only if we remain strong in our belief and faith in the Lord. He will sustain us and persevere as well. Let us continue to Praise and
Glorify Him in all things..even when we do not fully understand them.
Psalm 9:
(1) I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. (2) I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. (3) When mine enemies are
turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. (4) For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. (5) Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the
wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. (6) O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. (7) But the LORD shall
endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. (8) And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. (9) The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (10) And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken
them that seek thee. (11) Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. (12) When he maketh nquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of
the humble. (13) Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:(14)That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the
daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. (15) The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.(16) The LORD is known by the judgment which he
executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. (17) The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (18) For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the
expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. (19) Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.(20)Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but
men. Selah.
Finally, I would like to say, Take the words of Psalm 71:1-5 to heart for the Lord Holds the Key to all things.
PSA 71:
(1) In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. (2) Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. (3) Be thou my strong
habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. (4) Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. (5) For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: Thou art my trust from my youth.
In closing I would like to leave you with this story about life and death. Not just the type of deaths in the story, but death in all forms and how a simple thing such as a sandpiper can bring us comfort and joy.
The Story is called "Sandpipers".
Sandpipers
She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sand
castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said. I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child. "I’m building," she said. "I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring. "Oh, I don’t know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by.
"That’s a joy," the child said. "It’s a what?" I asked. "It’s a joy, my mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy." The bird went gliding down the beach. "Good-bye joy," I muttered to myself, "hello pain," and turned to walk on. I was depressed; my life seemed completely out of balance.
"What’s your name?" She wouldn’t give up. "Robert," I answered. "I’m Robert Peterson." "Mine’s Wendy....I’m six." "Hi, Wendy." She giggled. "You’re funny," she said. In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked
on. Her musical giggle followed me. "Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We’ll have another happy day."
The days and weeks that followed belonged to others; a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of the dishwater. "I need a sandpiper," I said to myself, gathering up my coat. The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was chilly, but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed. I had forgotten the child and was startled when she appeared.
"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?" "What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance. "I don’t know, you say." "How about charades?" I asked sarcastically. Her tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don’t know what that is." "Then let’s just walk," I said. Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face. "Where do you live?" I asked. "Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages. Strange, I thought, in winter.
"Where do you go to school?" I don’t go to school. Mommy says we’re on vacation." She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to the beach in a state of near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like demanding she keep her child at home. "Look, if you don’t mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I’d rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath. "Why?" she asked. I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, "My God, why was I saying this to a little child?" "Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day." "Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day
before and - oh, go away!" "Did it hurt?" she inquired "Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself. "When she died?" she asked. "Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I strode off.
A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn’t there.Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn
looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door. "Hello," I said. "I’m Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where she was." "Oh, yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much. I’m afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies."
"Not at all-she’s a delightful child," I said, suddenly realizing that I meant what I had just said. "Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had
leukemia. Maybe she didn’t tell you." Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath. "She loved this beach; so when she asked to come, we couldn’t say no. She seemed so much better off here and had a lot of what she called "happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered.
"She left something for you...if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?" I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with "Mr. P" printed in bold, childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues - a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.
Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost forgotten how to love opened wide. I took Wendy’s mother in my arms. "I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry." I muttered over and over, and we wept together.
The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words - one for each year of her life - that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love. A gift from a child with sea-blue eyes and hair the color of sand - who taught me the gift of love.
NOTE:
This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy life, living, and each other.
"The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less." Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly important and what is only a momentary setback or crisis. Today, tomorrow, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means, take a moment....even if it is only ten
seconds, to stop and smell the roses.
