Nov 28th Advent day 2

Matthew 24:29-31

The Message (MSG)

 ²⁹"Following those hard times,

   Sun will fade out,
      moon cloud over,
   Stars fall out of the sky,
      cosmic powers tremble.

 ^30-31"Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

I guess its going to be pretty terrifying!   Not sure that I like the thought of the sun failing to appear and the moon vanishing and the stars falling.  Not really.     And reading this I suppose I assume that all of that is going to happen in one day - the day He comes back.  But it doesn't say that.  It could be that the earth will experience a season of  'cosmic trembling'   - maybe weeks or months.   I do find myself looking at the night sky on those evenings when the moon looks red and wondering if this night might be one of those nights.   But I think when it happens we wont be in any doubt.

 Unready people.....will lament'    Presumably they will lament because as they see Him coming they will instantly recognise Him and realise their mistake.   

It reminds me of one of the best testimonies I've ever heard.  A Christian lady, Anne Elmer , was in hospital in France and in the bed opposite her was an elderly lady who was clearly dying.  In the middle of the night Jesus woke Anne and asked her to get out of bed   to pray with the dying lady.  Specifically He wanted her to pray that she would recognise Him when He came to her.   Despite being unwell herself, Anne struggled over to the woman and prayed.  But she forgot to pray as Jesus had instructed .  She went back to bed and expected that the lady would not survive until the morning.   However, when she woke up the lady was sitting up in bed looking a bit better.  She waved over to Anne and said '  Did you come to me in the middle of the night?'   Anne said that yes she had.  The lady then asked '  And who was than nice young man with you?  Was that your son?'

She had clearly seen Jesus coming to her but had not recognised Him for who He was  ( Theres an interview with Anne Elmer here if you want to find out more.  Her story is truly amazing.  Check it out.  .http://prophetic.tv/watch.php?e=28 )

I love this story because it gives me hope that Jesus comes to everyone when they are dying.  Some people don't recognise Him - maybe they have never heard of Him.   But we can pray , especially for those who are on the verge of leaving this life, that when He comes they will both see Him and know Him.  And then be happy to go with Him.

At the end of the age when He returns there will be many who realise with ' lamenting'  that they have left it too late.  Let us ensure that we take as many with us as possible to that awe inspiring reunion.

Lord,  I don't often think about You coming back.  I don't often think about those who will be left behind.  I know You don't want any to be lost.  So help me to show You and speak You to anyone who comes across my path who has ears to hear and a heart to receive.  

Awesome photo of sun through clouds on Scottish loch by Deborah Uprichard :-)