— Chapter One —

In The Beginning
 

      By the Fall of 1991, I’d been earnestly seeking the Lord regarding our family’s future direction.  My ongoing prayer seemed more and more like a mantra as the weeks and months rolled by.  In essence, I asked:

“Lord,
how should we position ourselves
for the times ahead?”

      Things were going reasonably well for us.  We had two businesses, a bright teen attending Christian school, a wonderful church family and a nominal walk with God.  There nonetheless persisted a sense of needing to adjust our future course, especially in view of where on God’s timetable, the world appears to be.  “How Lord?” I would ask.  “How should we plot our path through the closing years of this decade and how can we best use the time and other resources you give us?”

During the next year, both businesses continued to prosper and our church became an  even greater blessing.  At the same time, my wife and I resumed a marvelous habit established early in our Christian life but which had been set aside as we became busier.  We reinstituted our morning devotions.  Rising early, we’d meet at the kitchen table to worship, study, pray and open our hearts to one another.  It’s become a tremendous blessing to our marriage relationship and especially exciting when, at times, God sovereignly reveals His presence.

Then, sometime early in the Winter of 1993, a question began to stalk my mind:

“What, if anything, would you
change if you knew for SURE
Jesus would return by year’s end?”

What could I change?  Business, tuition and home, along with rice, rent and Reeboks™ kept us pretty well locked in.  The fact is, the thing I most wanted to change  was least likely to — our teen’s thinking! (Have you ever felt that way?)  I didn’t realize then or for several months, that God was answering my prayer, though in a different way than expected.

That dogged question simply would not go away and some of my unspoken responses to it were unsettling.  It’s hounding discomfort continued into April of 1993 when I was prompted to discuss it with my wife.

“Let me ask you a question,” I said to her one day. “What do you suppose you’d do differently if you knew for SURE Jesus was coming back by Christmas; would you change anything about your life?”  She surprised me with, “Just about everything!”

Right then I began to suspect that God might have  a hand in this matter.  You see, I had already come to that same uncomfortable realization about my own life.  I think we were dumfounded, because our lives were finally getting settled.  Four of the five kids were grown and married, and we were almost reconciled to the upcoming empty-nest syndrome.  The house was nearly paid for and our lives were just getting comfortable.

In addition, through the nurturing of our church, along with regular Bible study and devotions, our lives were recovering from a difficult period.  To change things NOW just didn’t make sense!

Yet, there we sat confessing, that we’d restructure our lives right now, IF we knew Jesus would return by year’s end.  Figuratively, we were stopped in our tracks; ARRESTED by the conviction of God!  Please note; there was no smoke, lightning or voice from above and no angelic visitation.  Though not as dramatic as Paul’s “arrest,” we had a compelling witness in our spirits, resting on basic Bible truth.

To probe the depth of our newly revealed convictions, I increased the question’s pressure by shortening the time factor:

“What, if anything,
would you change about your life
if you knew for sure our Lord would
return on May 14th?”

That would be on Israel’s 45th. anniversary, in just forty-one days.  What an awesome day for Him to revisit!

Interestingly, our answers were the same, but more urgent:  “Everything!”  Some people, such as our pastor, probably would change very little.  He would no doubt continue what he’s been doing; just more of it and a whole lot faster.  Not ME!  I would have to change almost everything to redeem the remaining time.  We concurred that very little in our current lifestyle seemed to have much significance in view of His imminent return.  There was just too much to do and too much left undone in our lives.  Something needed to change.  We  then made this a “front-burner” prayer concern.

The question remained:  What would we do if we did decide to change?  A-ha!  Maybe the key question was, were we willing to change?  Were we willing to alter our lives based simply on the authority of God’s written Word (ie., willing to be “right-wing, religious-fundamentalists”)?  Or did we require additional information; perhaps a prophecy or a word of knowledge?  In Revelation 3:11* Jesus says, “Look, I am coming soon!”  Then in Matthew 24:36*, He answered His disciples:

“But no one knows the date and the hour when the end will be — not even the angels.  No, nor even God’s Son.  Only the Father knows.”

The REAL question was, do we take that as His definitive word on the subject, or do we need a specific date?  Is it then an issue of trust in the inerrancy of His Word; obedience?

We agreed; we were willing to change and to take God at His Word — literally.  It was amazing!  It had always been easier to agree on what we didn’t want rather than on what we did.  I’ll tell you what we decided in a moment.  First let me ask you a question:

What Would You Do?

Have you ever come face-to-face with this issue?  What would you do if you became totally convinced that Jesus is coming to take Christians out of this world in just eighteen days?  Isn’t it fair to assume you’d change something?  Let’s take it a step further.  Suppose it would be by this Christmas.  Would you adjust anything NOW, based on that date?  How about three years, five, or ten?  Would you alter anything or would you postpone it until that time drew near?

If these questions make you uncomfortable, as they did us, it might be the Holy Spirit nudging you.  They helped us to make an important decision which has drawn us into a more meaningful and rewarding Christian life.  One last question: What would you do if this were your last day to live?

Last Day

IF TODAY
just happened to be
the very last one
you’d ever see

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Who would you see?
What would you say?
Where would you be?

IF YOU KNEW FOR SURE
this was the last
how’d you live it
very slow, or fast?

WOULD YOU LOOK AHEAD
or review the past?
Would you seek the Lord
on this your last?

WOULD YOU CURSE HIM?
Think you’d pray?
What would you ask Him
on your last day?

WOULD YOU ASK FORGIVENESS
for error and sin?
Would you open your heart
that He might come in?

WOULD YOU SEEK FREEDOM
from guilt and pain?
Would you want to be close
to your Father again?

IF THIS WERE THE LAST
would you fall on your face
plead His mercy
petition His grace?

WELL, MY DEAR FRIEND
this is your last!
Tomorrow’s a promise
yesterday is past.

TODAY’S THE ONLY TIME
that you can decide
to make up with God
to be on His side.

REPENT OF SIN
surrender your heart!
Accept Jesus
God will do His part!

HE WHO WAS LAST
may then become first
Last day on earth
first through rebirth!

© 1993 by R. Henry

LIFE LINES — People, Places and Navel-gazing

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