Tornado watch



            Today we were placed on a tornado watch. The National Weather Service declared that the weather conditions in our area were favorable for a tornado to develop between 2 and 10 p.m.. So, for the next 8 hours people will nervously watch the skies or storm chasers excitedly follow the clouds and lightning. What if the NWS declared a Jesus watch? Truth be told, conditions are favorable for Jesus to come back. Conditions have been favorable since the time of the apostles. It doesn't mean he isn't coming; he is giving mankind every opportunity to turn to him and not away. How many people will gladly take a tornado over Jesus’ return?
            What does it mean to be ready for the return of Jesus? I think it means to be about the work God has given us to do. Certainly, we cannot just stand around staring at the sky. God has given us things to do and people to love, lots of people! Years ago, I was part of a women’s bible study and we had gathered the morning after a severe lightning storm and my friend Carolyn had experienced a bolt of lightning that completely lit up her bedroom in the middle of the night. She jumped out of bed and shouted, “I’m ready Lord!” and was severely disappointed to discover it was only lightning. After she related her story I found myself contemplating her enthusiasm for the return of our Savior; also, wishing to have the same.
            What is it about this earthly life that we desire to hold onto it so tightly? We strive to live here for as many years as we can even though we have been promised that heaven and eternity will be so much more than we can ever dream. For me, it is the ones I love that make me want to stay, I want to know they have their lives under control. Even though my presence affects their lives, ultimately it is God who provides and protects them. If we believe in God then we must believe he takes care of our loved ones too. Each day we might ask ourselves, am I ready?
            So, what do we watch for? Just what the bible tells us.
Matthew 24: 27- 31  "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.  “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

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