War of the Worlds

Two Worlds One Choice
I Thess. 4:13-18
Hope

We have come to the final message of our summer sizzler series. The first week we talked abou dealing with our past regrets, last week we discussed dealing with our present sin, and this week I want to look at our future hope.

I the movie there is a scene in the beginning where Ray sees clouds and lightning coming across the sky. Everyone is watching and caught off guard by this storm that just appeared. They didn't know what to do but to hide and go inside. There was a sense of doom and hopelessness.

After 9/11 we too had an understanding of the feeling of hopelessness. We couldn't control the circumstances and do anything to stop them. Or to even help the victims for that matter. It was as though a cloud of despair decended onto the world. Death seemed to surround us. One thing I know is that the church stood up and brought hope to a lost and hopeless world.

Paul spoke to us about our hope in I Thess. 4.

Our blessed hope is one day, even today, to see Christ come back from heaven for us, his church. V13-15 seem to be a pre-amble, if you will, to the hope of the rapture of the church.

The Thessolonians lost loved ones and became despondent over their fate because they thought they would miss the rapture. So Paul wrote to them to encourage them in their hope.

The word "rapture" cannot be found in the Bible but we use it as a means of describing the event the Bible says will take place in our present future. If vs. 17 Paul says we "shall be caught up" which is the Greek word "harpazo". St. Jerome, who translated the Greek to Latin in the Latin Vulgate translated this phrase to "raptu" which is where we get our English word rapture.

Paul also wrote the the Corinthians about this blessed event and gave some detail as to what will happen. I Cor. 15:51-55 speaks of a physical change to the body of the believer. All sickness, sin, old age, sorrows and death will be removed.

Jesus will not only call us heavenward but will change us instantly in the "twinkling of an eye".

"Scientists have computed that it takes one-fiftieth of a second to blink an eye and that a person blinks 25 times a minute. Thus, a motorist who averages 55 miles per hour on a 10 hour trip, drives 33 miles with his eyes closed."

When Jesus comes, believe me you will see him.

With two worlds and one choice what will you do?

For to choose Christ is to choose victory for death is swallowed up in victory.

So what are we to do now as we wait for Christ?

Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."

I don't think selling our possessions, building a bomb shelter and stocking up on gold, canned food and water is exactly what Jesus had in mind.

During the time of the Year 2000 a church in RI decided to have an emergency plan of evacuation and had a shelter built at the church for it's members. The pastor was interviewed in a local paper, and asked why they had guns. They said for protection. Then the reported asked if they would really shoot someone. They said if anyone tries taking their food they will be shot. How sad for a pastor and a church to think that way. God has called us to be lights in this world, not to hide them.

We must prepare ourselves spiritually for the day of the Lord. Continue to pray, attend church, study your bible, give in your time, talent, and treasure, so that Jesus may find us working when he gets back.

Mt. 16:27 - "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."

Matt. 24:30-44 gives us the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. We must be vigilant.

When I first moved into my home my car was broken into and all my cds, my wallet and my ash tray we all stolen. I was unprepared for this. But we must not be that way with Christ.

In a world full of despair and hopelessness we have hope to share that it will not continue like this forever.

Keep looking up until He returns.