What if?

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep with him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that , we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever...Now, brothers about times and dates we do not need to write to you for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night...I Thessalonians 4:13-5:1.

There's been so much talk of the end of the world! Rapture was predicted to come yesterday. When 3 p.m. Arizona time rolled around, we realized that we were still here, all of us! For some, they breathed a sigh of relief. Some were ready to take a nap because they had partied all night before, making light of their last day on earth. For others, there was great confusion and great disappointment! Pastor Camping had predicted the time and the date incorrectly once again and many of his followers had sold everything they had and some had even left their families for their unbelief.

While it is no surprise that Pastor Camping was incorrect in his calculations; some even mocked his predicitions or even the notion of a rapture would take place. The question we are faced with is not if, but when! No one knows, but God himself. Is it real? According to the Scripture above, the answer is yes. I think we have one thing to thank Pastor Camping for...bringing the topic of the end of the earth to our hearts and minds. Some of us, don't think about it much. Some of us are not sure it will even take place. Some of us are so busy in our day to day business that we don't give eternity much thought.

What if the rapture had come yesterday? Would you have been one who was caught up in the cloud with Jesus? Or would you have been one of many who was left behind? What are you doing to be prepared? Are you watching for Him to return or are you "asleep"? Do you have your heart right with God or there is something that hinders your relationship with Him? Do you know where you will spend eternity?