Daily
Devotional

A noted evangelist was holding tent meetings in the community where we lived, so my son and I decided to attend. There, we heard an announcement that on the next night we could see a man “rise at the sound of the trumpet.” It was stated in a manner that implied someone was going to be raised from the dead.

The next evening, my son went by himself to the meeting, and in the middle of the platform sat a casket. The evangelist’s sermon was based on the Second Coming of the Lord. At a precise moment, a trumpet sounded . . . but nothing happened! Then quickly there was a scurry to rescue the gentleman inside the casket—the lid had inadvertently locked itself shut and he was in danger of suffocation.  

Ironically, that slip-up probably gave the evangelist’s message a greater impact than would have been achieved by his original plan. Those in the audience were expecting to see someone prepared for the Rapture depart and “ever be with the Lord.” Instead, they saw an illustration of someone who was not ready and who faced the frightening possibility of eternal death.

There is coming a day when Jesus will come back to rapture those who are ready. How terrible it would be to miss the Rapture! However, we know that no one must face that. Even now, we can pray to God and settle any doubts about something that would cause us to be unprepared. Then, we will be able to look forward to His coming as the beginning of our heavenly reward and eternal rest.

We must always be ready, for in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man will come. Jesus said when prophecies begin to come to pass, “lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).