Suddenly

I woke up this morning from a good night’s sleep and a word kept going over and over in my mind.  It was the word, suddenly.  Thoughts began to permeate and flood my awareness as I quickly captured them on paper.

I am sure most people can do without intense surprises that cause them to become disconcerted—taken-aback.  I hate sudden surprises, although birthday and anniversary surprises are acceptable, which are the exceptions.

I am talking about something that surprises me in negative ways that happen suddenly and are most difficult to react to, of which could mean the difference between life and death.

My wife and I were traveling on Highway 4 from Concord to Pittsburg, California, about a ten-mile jaunt from our home in Concord.  We were doing less than the speed limit because it was pouring rain, when suddenly, without warning, a car passed us on the left going at a high rate of speed.

The driver lost control of his vehicle as it hydroplaned directly in front of us, sliding to the freeway shoulder on the far right.  The car missed us by mere inches.  I had no time to react; it happened suddenly.  We were all okay, just shaken up.

I am the only one in my family that was born in California having never experienced ravaging storms of any kind.  Mom, Dad, and my three siblings moved to California from the Midwest where storms were a way of life. 

I remember Dad talking about tornadoes and how quickly they touch down from angry clouds to contact the earth, bringing with them destruction and death at times.  Though warning sirens are blaring loudly for everyone to take cover, people are sometimes slow to react, thinking they have time to do what they know is the right thing to do to survive.

Tornadoes hit areas suddenly, without warning when they finally touch down.  People that procrastinate in finding prepared shelters can regret not doing so when it’s too late.  The lack of expedience could mean the difference between life and death.

I read in the Bible that a great event is going to take place that will happen suddenly.  Sirens of warnings have been sounding out for decades via Christ’s ambassadors, preachers, evangelical outreaches, Christian parents, and through Believers that have shared about God’s redemption promise and that Jesus is coming back.

This redemption is nigh at hand.  When this phenomenon takes place, there will be no time to plead, “God forgive me of my sins!”  Time will be no more; it will be too late to cry out for God’s mercy. 

God’s grace is extended to whosoever will in the now before Jesus arrives in the clouds of glory.  Jesus is coming back in the twinkling of an eye the Bible says.  Talk about suddenly.  It can’t be much quicker than that.  This is one “suddenly” that I am looking forward to.

Either a person has found shelter in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ, having their sins forgiven by God, or they are in serious trouble that will last for eternity in hell, separated from Almighty God forever. 

The sad and cold fact of the matter is this, death is eminent without the shelter of God’s grace covering our sin.  Jesus’ blood protects our soul from death.  He shed it willingly on the cross to provide life.  Jesus is our haven of rest and the assured passport to heaven when He returns for the children of God.

It’s hard for my mind to grasp this reality, but I’m thrilled beyond words that His promise is mine and to those that want to be saved.  Remember, there are no second chances the moment Jesus appears in the clouds to receive His bride unto Himself, which is all Christians that have been born-again and prepared for this promised event.  They will spend eternity in heaven.

Jesus is our shelter from the vicious storm of sin that kills.  He provides life rather than death in His sanctuary of safekeeping.  People should not procrastinate in doing what they know to do. 

Today is the day of salvation.  Tomorrow may be too late.  Jesus might even come before you finish reading these thoughts.  Are you ready to meet Him?  Jesus is coming!  It’s only a matter of time.  It’s going to happen.

We don’t want to miss our only secure path to heaven.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  In Him we live; without Him we die.  He is our shelter in time of storm.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd