Daily Companion  | 3 October

RAPTURED OR LEFT BEHIND 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

There is a captivating poem written by a 13-year-old teenager, Alexandria Q. from Maryland, USA. It reads:

"I once dreamed of the clear blue sky
and the heavens way up high.
There were all kinds of animals climbing up trees,
there were mothers and fathers raking old leaves.
There were children all over running and playing.
There were really big churches shouting and praying.
Then all of a sudden the sky turned grey.
I figured it was just a little drizzle on a lovely day.
But no, I was wrong. Everyone was gone.
Everyone was gone except me, where did I go wrong?
After I walked and looked really hard,
I finally realized that this was being done by GOD.
Then I saw people, so I wasn't alone.
So I guess not everyone was gone.
There was lots of chaos and a whole lot of noise.
Suddenly it stopped at the large sound of a voice.
The voice said, "The others have been raptured, and all of you are left,
So I suggest you take my mark or else the choice is death."

The rapture awaits all true believers, dead or alive. This hope was reaffirmed by Paul in his First letter to the Thessalonians. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). 

The rapture is a promised immortality to all the children of God. A hope that should excite you at every mention of it. Such hope dispels sorrows and mourning over a believer who has gone to sleep in the Lord. But when the trumpet will sound, the question is, “Will you be raptured or left behind?” A miss of rapture is a meeting with the antichrist and the great tribulations to "take up the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:17-18). 

Dear friend, repent and accept Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. Amend your way. Be holy and rapture-ready at all times.

Today’s Recite:  “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1,3)

Today’s Morning Prayers:  Heavenly Father, I thank You for the promise of immortality. I believe in Your resurrection power and rapture. I receive Christ into my life today. I am immortal in Christ. I live to glorify You. I renounce satan and the sinful world. Grant me Your grace to remain fit for the rapture in Jesus' mighty name. Amen! 

Today’s Hymn: When The Roll is Called Up Yonder

Today’s ReadMe:  Mark 13 - 16