108 Years is nothing...

“It’s been said that in Chicago there are two seasons, winter and construction.  For Cubs fans, there is only one, and it always comes next year.  Rick Talley

  The curse of the goat has finally ended. It only took a little over a century. But if you’re going to endure years — no, generations — of futility and heartbreak, when you do finally win a World Series championship, it might as well be a memorable one. The Cubs finally did just that, shattering their 108-year championship drought in epic fashion: with their 8-7, 10-inning victory over the Cleveland Indians in the final game of the World Series. It went into the wee hours of the morning. In the end, at least for Cubs’ fans, it all seemed to come to an end all too soon.

  108 years…that’s a long time. But it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the fans of King Jesus. His Church has been waiting for Jesus’ return for over 2,000 years. We, too, live under the curse from a creature, a serpent who successfully tempted our first parents. With their sin they lost for all of us heaven on earth…temporarily.

  Prophecy and Jesus’ Second Coming are rarely talked about today, even in the Church. Skeptics scoff at it. That, too, was prophesied 2,000 years ago (2 Peter 3:3-4). According to the Bible, Christians have an appointment and the next date on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture.

  Some people think we’re crazy to believe in the Second Coming of Christ. But when Jesus ascended back to Heaven, two angels told His disciples: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). I love what Dr. Adrian Rogers said, “I may be a nut, but I’m fastened to a good bolt—the Lord Jesus Christ.”

  The Bible teaches the imminent return of Jesus Christ. As believers, we’re not looking for the undertaker but the uppertaker. As Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

  Believers anticipate what’s known as the Rapture. Some point out that the English word “Rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible. Yet, our English word “Trinity” also don’t appear in the Bible, but we adamantly believe in it.   

  Paul wrote that believers who are alive at the coming of the Lord will be “caught up.” It’s the Greek word harpazo. For many centuries the only Bible translation was the Vulgate. The Latin word is raptio, where we get the word “rapture.” The last recorded words of Jesus are on the last page of Scripture where He said, “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).

  We live in a time when most lack hope. Many things fuel this lack of hope: current world conditions; terrorism; government; increasing debauchery; economic anxiety; personal disappointments; health concerns; loss of loved ones; even our own approaching deaths. God’s Word urges believers to stand out as people of hope in an increasingly hopeless world.

  The bottom line of what happens after you die depends on what you do now, before you die. Some years ago, a letter went out from the Greenville County, South Carolina, Department of Social Services. It was addressed to over 50 former residents who’d recently died: “To whom it may concern: Your food stamps will be stopped effective immediately, because we have received notice that you passed away. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances.” But after you die, you can’t change your circumstances. What you do now as you prepare for your final appointment will determine where you will spend eternity. And there are only two options. If you know the Lord, you’ll be with Him at death but If you reject the Lord, you go to a place of eternal regret.

  In Luke 16, Jesus pulled back the curtain on the afterlife, showing us these two destinies. He told about Lazarus and a rich man. It’s a true account of two people who died. Lazarus didn’t earn heaven because he was a poor beggar. He had trusted his soul to God and was saved by faith. The rich man isn’t named, but died also. His funeral was probably a huge formal affair. But the rich man hadn’t trusted God.

  Jesus said, “The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side…” Those who die rejecting Christ will regret it for all eternity. If you die in the Lord though, the moment you die on earth, the angels escort you to be with the Lord. Our loved ones who died in Christ are already there. You’ll see them and know them. Do you have someone in heaven waiting on you? Don’t disappoint them. Be sure you know Jesus.

  Scripture says there will be a generation of believers who won’t have to go through a grave to see Jesus. When Christ returns, He’ll bring born-again loved ones with Him. In a nanosecond, He’ll raise their bodies from the grave. Their souls will then occupy their eternal resurrection body. Those of us still alive will be caught up to be with the Lord. We’ll be instantly changed to be like Jesus. Believers alive when Christ returns will never have a funeral. Are you ready? Or, are you prepared for death?   

  For anyone without a relationship with Jesus, death is terrifying. Bertrand Russell, the famed atheist said of death, “The life of Man is a long march through the night, surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by weariness and pain, towards a goal that few can hope to reach and where none can tarry long. One by one, as they march, our comrades vanish from our sight, seized by the silent orders of omnipotent Death.” But what a contrast to English poet, Hannah Moore, “There is one single fact which we may oppose to all the wit and argument of atheism, namely, that no man ever repented of being a Christian on his death-bed.” Jesus is coming back! As sure as the Cubs won the Series, He’s going to return. Are you ready? 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.