Don't Be Left Behind

I always hate it when people get overly serious on me - especially when I'm in a light-hearted mood. So if you're not in the mood for a serious talk, perhaps you can save this one for another day. I promise I won't be offended. :)

I also feel I should address the fact that I am truly sorry if I offend anyone. That is not my intention at all, I promise. These are my opinions, and you are most certainly entitled to your own. In fact, I would love to hear your opinion! I always try to be very open to hearing what everyone has to say.

I've been reading this book series called Left Behind (the first three were made into movies). It helps people understand what could potentially happen after God raptures those who have placed their trust in Him. It follows a very well-written fictional story of people who are all connected but have different convictions about God and what the rapture really was while following a broad interpretation of the book Revelations from the Bible.

It is a very convicting book, even for those who are already what I call true Christians (those who have placed their trust in God and consciously given their lives to God wholeheartedly and yearn for His word). And for those of you who have done so, first of all I congratulate you! And second, you can attest to the fact that those three things listed above all come hand in hand with each other since I'm sure those of you who have not do not fully understand. I know I didn't.

At any rate, I cannot stop thinking about what it would feel like to just be talking to someone and having them disappear right before your very eyes. Think of the confusion that would ensue! In the book it talks about people committing suicide because they fear the worst - or they know everyone was raptured and they missed the boat. My heart aches for the latter even more. Then it got me thinking about who I know that if this happened this very instant, I am not sure they would follow me up to Heaven. I want to be sure!

I am no expert on the subject of Revelations, and I will be the first to admit that this book just plain baffles me. But I will give you the basic rundown of what the 'Rapture' is. Basically the Bible says that sometime in the future, no one will have any inkling when, God will call all of His people, living and dead, up to Heaven so that they will not have to endure the hardship of the trials to come in the days before Jesus comes back to Earth to reign forever in what the book calls the Glorious Reappearing. Those raptured will also serve as a testament to God's glory for those remaining. Those left behind will have to endure seven years of the devil reigning the Earth before God returns for eternity. They have one last shot to redeem themselves and accept God into their hearts and let Him influence their decisions in life.

I not only encourage you to read these books and then seek your own references to understand the book of Revelation, but I encourage you to tell of God's glory now so that perhaps a few less people will have to suffer as those in the books suffer because they missed the boat. Anyone who knows me knows I love my friends very, very dearly. And it's because I love them so much that I wish to ensure that I see them again someday to share the kingdom of Heaven with me and the Almighty Lord!

Every person in this world is loved by somebody, and above all, God. We as Christians have a higher calling than other people of this world. We are called to share the Word of the Lord because we have been blessed with the knowledge that others lack or just plain refuse to accept. It is up to us to save those people loved so much by God that He sent His only son to die for us so that we are not condemned but have eternal life.

Me personally, I'm a hugger. So after I get that all-awesome hug from God and Jesus Himself, I want to hug my friends and welcome them to Heaven someday. I hope that is not for a long time, but I do pray for that more than anything in this world. And I hope to hug you and welcome you, too. And all of your friends and their friends and their friends!! But it's up to you to make sure your friends will join you in Heaven with the Lord someday. Don't worry, God will help you along the way.

God Bless!
ChristianKid