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Hallelujah! It won’t be long now, folks! To all of us who “love His appearing” (2 Tim 4:8), it can’t come soon enough! As David says in Psalm 42: As the hart pants after the waterbrooks, so pants my soul after Thee O God; my soul thirsteth for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

So let’s get ready to appear before God: “Looking unto Jesus… Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despised the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2) We have HEAVEN to look forward to! In fact, we have already been translated into His Heavenly Kingdom (Col 1:13), and the Kingdom is within you (Luke 17:21). So being heavenly-minded should be first nature to us.

Now is the time to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). You don’t want to be found “fearful and unbelieving” (Rev 21:8) at His appearing. We want to be joyful and victorious, knowing the happy ending of the story. It is “high time to awake out of sleep” (Rom 13:11), to “put away the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Matt 13:22). “The lust of the flesh… the pride of life” (1 Jn 2:16). NOW is definitely time to set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth. (Col 3:2)

Sure, we are all concerned with what is going on on the earth — with our family, communities, countries, internationally; but we cannot be of any benefit to anyone if we are fearful and unbelieving, stressed and fretting. The world needs examples of strength, courage and JOY. The joy of the Lord is the strength (Neh 8:10) we will need to see us through the perilous times to come. (2 Tim 3:1)

Awaken and Affirm

Fair enough, these faith-filled thoughts are probably not the first thing on your mind as you wake up. Probably the enemy will be there to flood your mind with the concerns of the day, but Scripture says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Is. 59:19). Get the jump on him!

I’ve learned to make it a point as I wake up to speak: “Jesus is Lord; Hallelujah, it’s a beautiful day!” It really helps. I want the devil and myself to hear these proclamations before any other thought can come at me. A sister at the recent World Prayer Assembly in Perth said to me, “You are known for your joy!” Wow, I’ll take that! So encouraging! I hope to keep the bar right there.

As I see it, we are standing on a ROCK, on a firm foundation. Though everything around us might be shaken, WE ARE NOT! (Heb 12:27) I heard someone once say, “That experience was so scary, I thought I would LOSE my faith!” How much better to say, “That experience was so scary, I had to USE my faith!”

By the way, that is what faith is for — it is a practical tool in your toolbox: open the box, grab an appropriate scripture, believe and receive. A favourite verse of mine is, “Blessed is she that believed, for there SHALL BE a performance of those things that were told her of the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Speak it out: put your HOPE and FAITH into action, like driving a car — sitting in the driver’s seat is not going to get you anywhere. You have to turn on the ignition, engage the gears and press the accelerator. It’s all right there; there is fuel in the tank. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The power is in the scriptures itself.

You are on a firm foundation, standing on the ROCK — so STAND! (Eph 6:13) Lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees (Heb 12:12). Remember to “in everything give thanks” (1 Thess 5:18), thanks that you are saved, and that you “have great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

Rejoice in Tribulation

As Jesus was, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Arm yourself with the same mind (1 Peter 4:1). It says the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). We’ve been comfortable, too comfortable. Suffering and sacrifice have been something that mostly happens in other countries.

Now, it’s spreading everywhere — persecution of Christians in Africa, Asia, Europe… Communism gaining a stronghold; atheistic, death-loving communism, even invading our Western democracies through the woke movement. The scripture says, in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. (Jn 16:33)

Jesus knew He was a lamb for the slaughter: “As He was, so are we in this world” (1 Jn 4:17). “Gird up the loins of your mind” (Pet 1:13). Look at the positives: sudden death; sudden glory. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps 116:15).

Personally, I never imagined myself dying of old age in my sleep… how boooore-ring! I preferred the thought of marching into the Coliseum singing victoriously with my brothers and sisters, or like my favourite martyr in the New Testament, Stephen, who after an eloquent, anointed discourse, looked up to Heaven and said, “I see Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55) A standing ovation from Jesus, now that’s something to aim for! I don’t think he even felt the stones.

Brethren, all believers are going to go to Heaven. Whether we are raptured in a group at the last trump, or our spirit leaves our body at another time, let’s embrace the idea, even look forward, anticipate that moment with joy when Jesus takes us to Himself. As the old song goes, “The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Don’t fear death, or persecution, or tribulation. He has said, “He will not tempt us above what we are able to bear.” (1 Cor 10:13). “He is with us always even to the end” (Matt 28:20). “What can separate us from His love?” (Rom 8:35-37). Focus on the doughnut, not on the hole. “Set your affections on things above” (Col 3:2). Look up; “Your salvation is nearer than when you first believed.” Get ready, be ready; do not be found without oil in your lamp like the foolish virgins. (Matt 25:8-10)

Homeward Bound

This is going to require daily devotions, prayer and bringing all aspects of your life to the Lord. Talk to Him as you would to your spouse; be close, be intimate. Start the day with Him. Keep the connection open so He can lead you and instruct you. “Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). Pray in the spirit, as you do chores, keep the channel open; listen for Him — He wants to speak to you. He is right there, closer “than the air we breathe,” as the song goes.

Now for the Rapture Practice. Rapture is also known as ecstasy — imagine that you are about to have all your wildest, fondest dreams answered: love, joy, peace, wealth, health, beauty, justice… every wonderful thing you can think of, “Think on these things.” (Phil 4:8) Heaven, people!

How much time do you spend meditating on the joys of Heaven, streets of gold, pearly gates, being in the Throne Room of God? Wow! Glorious! How about setting your affections on that place, your real home? You belong there; the DOOR is open (Jn 10:7). You already have access. Enjoy, relax, “labour to enter into that rest…” (Heb 4:11)

Meditate, believe, receive, praise and worship and be Raptured every day, as many times a day as you can. Look up, let the light of Heaven fill you with faith, peace, thanksgiving and joy. There you have it! Rapture Practice! Hallelujah! And one day under some circumstance, it will be the real thing. Your time to enter into eternal bliss with our spouse, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

PS: Recently, I listened to Winifred Garlow of the World Prayer Network as her son Jim recorded her last words, as she transitioned from mortality to immortality at the age of 102. She lapsed in and out of consciousness, saying, “Going to Heaven is fun.” Check it out on their website, WellVersedWorld.org.

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Photo by Jackson David.