HIS TIME

Revelation 1 - 3

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written in it;

for the time is near.

The two elderly widows sat enjoying a cup of coffee watching the spectacular sunset.   Despite the onset of winter the birds still sang in the garden content with the ready supply of food.  The youngsters  chattered quietly in the tall branches, summer had extended into the autumn, now they faced their first winter.

The conversation turned to aches and pains, deteriorating mobility and how the days were flying past at an alarming rate.    Judy's relatives were rather like buses, they came in threes followed by months of silence.  Now the two women were for the most part housebound their lives consisting of frequent medical appointments, the daily struggle to cope with simple chores, nevertheless remaining fiercely independent.  "Hard to believe how we raced through our lives, giving our all, but this time is my time"

declared Judy.   

She was sure she heard a voice say "No - it isn't"  but Mavis appeared to have nodded off.   "Right" Judy murmured "now I'm hearing things, how long before they decide I have dementia.    Not that anyone would know until I was found wandering around the streets in the middle of the night" 

As she observed her snoring companion she considered the many times in life she had misread the sign posts only to shoot off in a wrong direction and her stubborn refusal to see what was blatantly obvious until God removed the object of her desire or the log jam of self.   She had to learn God won't play second fiddle to our ego, ambition or comfort zone.   Now more than ever Judy knew it was a case of  "Thy Will be done"   That in these last days she was called to pray, stand and patiently wait.

She was a prayer warrior waiting for the final curtain but when ever the opportunity arose she would witness to a hurting world knowing full well her Saviour was never far from that wrecked life, the sick, disadvantaged, persecuted and lost sheep.

Those who considered themselves intelligent and superior to other mere mortals were the hardest nuts to crack.   They didn't need anything other than their own exalted opinion and worldly status.   Soon her Saviour would return and He would deal with the pharisees, hirelings and those who feathered their own nests along with those who scoff and mock. 

THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL BE TERRIBLE.   Hades will receive her fill.   It will be too late for many their place lost forever.   Evil will not be allowed to contaminate His Kingdom.

Judy knew most didn't believe in either heaven or hell, their dreams filled with that lottery win and the desire for celebrity status.   They actually preferred their hellish existence.  It mattered little that greed was rapidly turning this once beautiful planet into a living scrap yard of metal structures and dirty contaminated pools of sludge.   How long before that enforced injection became a lethal injection.  She shuddered at the future her grandchildren might face if the downslide continued.   And yet people were amused when she suggested they take a long hard look at their lives before its too late, that God will  always hear a cry of repentance, His arms open wide to receive a prodigal son or daughter.

P               That is the PROMISE.

E               For EACH and every soul.

A              ABSOLUTE and eternal.

C              Through CHRIST - the door to salvation.

E               ETERNAL life in His Kingdom come. 

Mavis awoke with a grunt.   "How long have I been asleep" she enquired.   "Not long" Judy replied.  "Sorry about that" said Mavis "I just hate the long dark evenings, I am ready for bed at four o'clock perhaps we should all hibernate until the spring"

Judy laughed "now there's positive thinking, the way America is pushing Russia do you think we will see another spring?"    "Only God knows" replied Mavis "but I thank Him for my slot in time, and just pray I'm heaven bound before it all kicks off."

That night Judy had a dream that she would cling to in the dark days ahead.

She was a mere observer standing on the edge of a scene that left her breathless.   The building was huge with a forecourt leading down into beautiful gardens.   Massive white columns in the hall had the appearance of marble, cool to the touch.   People were walking in and out of the building.  The atmosphere was one of amazing joy and peace.  They were laughing and talking excitedly crowding around a young man in uniform.    They were completely unaware they were being observed.  Suddenly the man saw Judy and moved towards her.   He kissed her gently on the cheek.  The crowd swelled around him and she felt abandoned and alone waking suddenly in her room.  

She knew without a shadow of doubt her time would come, blessed with a glimpse of her future home, encouragement for the dark days ahead that would light her way to the finish line.        

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai

SHALOM