The Rapture and What We Truly Deserve

Luke 23:26-43
The Crucifixion
Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' (27 - 31)
'Let him save himself if he really is God's Chosen One, the Messiah' (35)
'Don't you fear God even when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn't done anything wrong.' ( 40, 41)

Christ had to endure Man's wicked, evil and unfaithful nature. We don't deserve to be saved and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is truly by God's grace that we are even offered this opportunity. "Mob mentality" - it is so engrained in our nature. We see it in the news, where perfectly good, reputable honourable citizens will embrace stupid acts of violence when there is no sense of order... I suppose this is what Hell would look like... I am humbled that I know that I will be with God when I cease to breathe on this earth. If this verse were alive in me, I would cherish my life and do my best to walk with Christ and follow his ways. I ask that God fill me up and protect me from the evil one.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:3
The Hope of the Resurrection
'For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. (14)
Then together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words. (17, 18)
Disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman's birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. There will be no escape. (3)'

My husband calls this the 'rapture' - the day when Christ returns to take us home and Satan claims this planet his own. I am reminded that God has provided us a way out because He loves us and wants us to join him in Heaven. But the choice is always ours to make. This is the only way we would cherish his gift and not take it for granted. I need to live my life in a way that doesn't take advantage of others and is pleasing to God as my way of thanking him for loving me. My prayer is a song of praise to you - So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus your all this heart is searching for... Hungry, I come to you for your love it satisfies...