Cathie sat in her usual seat at the weekly Gospel meeting. Tonight the speaker was talking about two Bible verses: “Prepare to meet thy God,” Amos 4:1212Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (Amos 4:12) and “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). He even said that you could accept Jesus as your own personal Saviour right there as you sat in your seat. Eight-year-old Cathie had heard God’s plan of salvation many times before, but tonight the words “prepare” and “now is the time” kept ringing in her ears.
After the meeting, Cathie and her family went home as usual to settle for a good night’s sleep after the bedtime Bible story and prayers.
The bright sunshine and the noisy crows woke Cathie early the next morning. She jumped out of bed and ran to Mommy and Daddy’s room like she usually did. But they were not there. Their bed was made up as if it had never been slept in. Where were they? Cathie’s first thought was, Oh no, maybe the Lord Jesus came last night and took them to heaven and left me behind!
Then she ran to her brothers’ room, but it was empty too. Has Jesus come already?
Was it too late for Cathie? No wonder those words “prepare” and “now is the time” had kept ringing in her ears! God’s Word should be listened to and obeyed. And Cathie had waited too long. She began to cry and cry and call for Mommy and Daddy.
But wait . . . wasn’t that Mommy’s voice she heard? Quickly she ran to another room and, yes, there were Mommy, Daddy, and her three brothers. What a relief! They had hidden from Cathie in a surprise game of hide-and-seek.
Cathie remembered hearing that nothing happens by chance. There was still time to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as her own Saviour before it would be too late forever. “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” Psalm 3:88Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (Psalm 3:8). “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:33My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3).
Cathie didn’t wait any longer. She accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour and knows that soon Jesus will come and take her home to heaven to be with Him there. She won’t be left behind. “Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).
If Jesus came today to take all His own to heaven, would you be left behind?
ML 02/18/1990