“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-30).

Many ‘Christians’ are going to be very annoyed when Jesus Christ returns!!!  Not only will they not be expectant of Him, nor ready for Him, they will be bothered by His coming…because He will be interrupting their plans and disrupting their world.  Many will be preparing to get married…maybe everything is set-up and the wedding is the following week!  “Oh darn!”  Many will be giving their children away in marriage…a day they have been anticipating for so long.  They spared no expense on the festivities, and now it would be cancelled due to Christ’s abrupt interruption!

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32).

Many will have plans for a family vacation, or even a personal holiday.  They’ve got the visas, the tickets and are all packed…  They can’t wait!  Then Jesus shows up “Ta da!”  “Oh no…” they slump in disappointment.  They will never get to go on that holiday!  Maybe you finally got that promotion you had been angling for…and today is your first day of glory “Praise Jesus!”…then Jesus comes and takes all the glory!  Maybe you just spent a fortune on a new shipment, and can’t wait to reap the profits.  But before the markets open, behold the Son of Man in the skies!  Nobody is buying today!

“…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

But for a few others, He can’t come soon enough!  They have been waiting, and waiting, expecting and longing, watching and praying, and labouring in the field…warning the people that the end will soon come.  They have been faithful with the little things (Luke 16:10).  They have not loved money (Matt 6:24, 1 Tim 6:10), nor their lives (Luke 14:26), nor desired any status in the world (Jam 4:4).  They have been satisfied to be the servant (Luke 22:26), they have been content with their daily bread (1 Tim 6:8), they have endured wrong (Matt 5:11, 1 Pet 4:13) and used those occasions as opportunities to let their light shine and love their enemies (Matt 5:44, Rom 12:19-21).   They have been persecuted for righteousness (John 15:20), hated by all men (Mark 13:13), mocked by their family (Matt 10:36)…

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev 22:12).

Today is the day of their deliverance!  Today, they will be avenged and vindicated!  Today, everyone will know that they are not mad.  Today, those who laughed at them, those who shunned them, those who persecuted them, will be looking for where to hide.  The scorners and mockers and disobedient will be calling on the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Rev 6:16)!  Today, the faithful will meet their Lord and Saviour in the skies (1 Thes 4:17)…  They will go HOME at last, and meet their Father face to face (Rev 22:4).  The tears they cried will be wiped away (Rev 21:4)…their long-suffering will have meaning…  They will reside in the Heavens, clothed in royal garments, and will be satisfied.

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luke 17:33)

Which camp are you in?  Are you among those who are seeking to preserve their lives on Earth?  Have you believed the lie that you can have your cake and eat it too?  That those who are persecuted are “too extreme”?  That it is only the rich young ruler that Jesus asked to sell all he had?  That your riches are God’s seal of approval of your lifestyle?  Or have you known the truth and loved it?  Have you seen the Rock of offence and fallen on it, broken and humbled by it (1 Pet 2:7-8)?  Will you be among those that “overcame [the antiChrist] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and…loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev 12:11)?

“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Luke 12:42-43).

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