Can we really ever escape the chaos of this world?

3/27/2009

Now with the world seemingly getting more and more chaotic, I find myself even more hoping for peace and security.  How about you? I have noticed myself lately thinking about how wonderful it would be to live in an oasis - away from the world and its struggles. (You know the standard daydream of living in the mountains on a huge parcel of land, or on an island away from everything.) On this oasis there would be no financial mess to worry about, because we could easily provide for our own needs – you know we’d catch a fish here and there, grow our own veggies, etc. In this safe refuge, we wouldn’t be concerned about being robbed, kidnapped, raped, or even killed because we would not live near anyone who would do such things.  In this sanctuary, everyone would live in harmony with each other and nature, because we would all truly care about each other, and the things around us.  But when I come back to reality, I realize escapism isn’t very practical because the confusion of this world seems to just follow where ever anyone goes, because all of us add to the mess… 

Then I realize what I have been really wanting and hoping for, can’t be found on this sinful earth, but only in eternity with Jesus.  And that one day (maybe in the near future) my Lord Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout and a blast of a trumpet to take me (and everyone who believes in Him) away with Him. (the Rapture…) This escape will happen in a moment of time. And it won’t matter whether I am dead or alive when it happens, because He will bring supernatural life to my whole being; and change my surroundings to exactly what I have been longing for! Do you have this hope of escape? Read John 14:1-3 & 1 Corinthians 15

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 in 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. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

Because of the hope of heaven only found in Jesus Christ, Gini