Are You Ready for the Rapture?

 Are You Ready for the Rapture? - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com The Rapture is drawing nearer by each passing day. Every Christian should be eagerly watching the signs and yearning to hear that call from our Lord. When will it happen?That’s impossible to predict, but Jesus gave us a summary of the signs to watch for that would lead to the Tribulation; those final seven years will follow the Rapture. As we see the signs all falling into place, we can see just how close we are to going Home.There are also signs disclosed in Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, and more. Most Christians don’t study Scripture so they’re blind to what’s swiftly coming. The nightly news will report things from a secular view, but if you filter their reports through the lensof Scripture you might find some interesting facts. None of us know when we will be standing before Jesus, but either by death or by the Rapture, it is certain we will be there one day. The question is, when your time comes, what will you be doing? As we go through this life, it can become easy to think like the secular people around us. Gossiping with co-workers or losing patience with people who don’t come up to ouridea of perfection. Friends may tempt you to participate in activities that Scripture tells us are sin, or we might just selfishly decide not to help someone in need. We all make choices as to how we approach life. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthiansto take thoughts captive. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exaltethitself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. Will you be acting or thinking in disobedience to God when you’re called Home? Or will you be standing firmly upon God’s word? It’s easy to try to please friends and family,but those people cannot bring salvation to you. Only Christ’s blood brings salvation and He deserves our obedience. Jesus told us very clearly that sin begins with our thoughts. “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hathcommitted adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28. This also applies to women lusting after men. James had very good insight about temptation. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be temptedwith evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin, when it is finished, bringeth for death.” James 1:13-15. When you leave this world, will you be lusting after a sinful desire? Will you yield to the temptation of evil? Take your thoughts captive and don’t give Satan chance to ruinyour life. We all have to grow up and mature. Children react to situations in ways that are very immature. If another child takes Billy’s toy, Billy reacts by violence or yelling. Billy,and all of us, must learn to share and to find a better way to resolve the situation than anger and violence. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians13:11. Good parents will guide children into maturity in everyday life, and maturity in their Christian walk. A Christian father should be the example to his son as to how to bea man, and an example to his daughter as to what to look for in a husband. The same with a mother. God, our Father, gives us guidance in living, and as His children we need to be obedient. There are many temptations, but if God’s word is written on our hearts,we will make choices that honor Him. In that way, whatever we are doing or thinking at the time we are called Home, we won’t be ashamed. Parents, be sure you have given your child the firm foundation of Christ. Lead by example so you, and your children, won’thave any shame when meeting Jesus. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12. We are born with a sin nature, but by accepting Christ’s sacrifice, our sins are forgiven. We must repent, and turn from sin. Where did that sin nature come from? Eve chose to converse with Satan and was deceived into sin, but Adam chose to sin. “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam wasnot deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:13-14. This stumbles many people. Paul isn’t saying that women aren’t important to God’s work, or lesser people than men, but he is saying that men are to be the leaders. In writingthese commentaries, I’m very cautious. My husband began this ministry and God is allowing me to continue writing commentaries. I only study the men whom Ron trusted and thereby I stay under his authority, and in tune with God’s will. What will I be doing whenI’m called Home? Prayerfully, I will be serving my Lord. Will I be harboring any sinful thoughts? Probably, but my desire is to take those thoughts captive and bring “… into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5b. None of us can stand before God by our own merit. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption thatis in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:23-25. We are all sinners, but Christians are saved by grace. If you say “I’m a Christian”, shouldn’t your actions speak louder than your words? Works won’t save us, but they areimportant in serving Christ. Jesus said “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat uponthat house; and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and thewinds blew and beat upon that house and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:24-27. We all have a foundation in life. Either a secular foundation built upon sand that will fall when storms hit, or the wiser foundation built upon the Rock. The Apostle Paulcarries this truth into his first letter to the Corinthians “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall bemade manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-13. If you think you can accept Christ and then live a worldly, self-serving life, you need to think again. What you do with Christ’s free gift of salvation will affect your eternity.You won’t lose salvation, but you will lose rewards. “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1 Corinthians3:14-15. What will you be doing when you’re called Home? Will you be building upon a foundation that is firmly set upon the Rock, Jesus Christ? Or will you be building on a foundationof sand with wood, hay, and stubble? The rewards you earn for things done for God’s glory, will bring eternal joy. Brothers and sisters, we cannot know when we will find ourselves standing before our Lord. Will you have a heart attack? Maybe a car wreck will send you Home, or some otherunexpected event. I’ve known many people who have died unexpectedly. Some of those people leave no doubt in my mind that they are with the Lord eternally, because they lived their faith so everyone could see. What if you don’t die? What if the Rapture happens? “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians15:51-52. You won’t have time to go make apologies to someone you’ve caused trouble. You won’t have time to go do that good deed you chose not to do because it interfered with yourfun. You will be doing something. I hope you’ll be serving the Lord. I know what I’d like to be doing when He calls me Home. I’d love to be sharing the Gospel. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be sharing God’s truth with the person who is the lastto accept Christ during the Church age? “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles come in.” Romans 11:25. There will be one last Gentile to come to faith. Time is getting short and if your grandmother, uncle, cousin, or friend haven’t accepted Christ for salvation, they won’t “go to a better place” after death. Share the Gospel with everybody you can, and be a source of Christian encouragement to those who have given their life to Christ. What will you be doing when God calls you Home? Make sure what you’re doing is something that glorifies Christ. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com ron@straitandnarrowministry.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you would d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know.