The Rapture on April 23rd

We wanted to update you on a few things and share some thoughts about the Rapture scheduled for April 23, 2018!

Life is full! We see the Lord providing for the expanding ministry opportunities for Entrust in such powerful ways: new staff and three new board members, as well as funding for Entrust projects from foundations and individuals! The resulting stories are exciting … what we hope and pray for daily. Thank you for the sacrifices you make to keep us serving as we do … again, your prayers are what we depend upon. Praise and prayer updates can be found in the right sidebar. Thank you for praying!

Love to you all, David and Nancy

So glad I saw this about the Rapture occurring on April 23^rd, 2018

Not that I believe this is the date. After all, Jesus said, “No one will know the day or the hour…” (Matt. 24:36). But it made me reflect on what I would do between now and then if I were convinced of this latest calculation (https://goo.gl/YAxdh1).

I’m usually too cheap to drive through Starbucks every morning, but now I probably would … get a Venti Breve with sugar free … no, why bother making it sugar free! I’d eat out more. Yes, most items on my wish list would fade in value. But I quickly realized that the biggest change would relate to the people in my life. Not just relatives and friends who don’t know Christ, but neighbors and everyone I meet on the street. If you knew that in a week or two your opportunity to take anyone with you would be over and done with, that truth would be looming over every conversation you had. How could you not be infected with an overpowering sense of urgency?

I remember Paul’s warning about how our minds can be so “set on earthly things” that we do not live as citizens of heaven “who eagerly await a Savior from there.” (Phil. 3:20)

What, me? Earthly minded? Probably! Here’s a pop quiz about some of the values Paul extols. (Don’t take it unless you are serious about being one of the eagerly awaiting ones Paul speaks of.)

• Do I get more excited about my favorite sports team’s victories than about one of my brothers or sisters gaining victory over some sin that enslaves them?
• Do I take more pleasure in a family birthday than in celebrating the baptism of someone whom God used me to bring to the Lord?
• Do I think more about the ups and downs of my finances than the accounting I am scheduled for when I see Christ?
• Do I put more energy into planning my weekly menu than feeding my soul?
• Do I get more concerned about the polarization of American politics than how the cause of Christ is doing in my own neighborhood?

What’s wrong with celebrating my nephew’s birthday? Nothing! Earthly things are not bad unless they command more of our focus than heavenly things. I see the article setting a date for the Rapture and I feel a bit superior because I know that biblically, such endeavors are futile. But perhaps I should feel some shame in the possibility that whoever made these calculations more “eagerly awaits” the Savior than I do.

Paul’s admonition about earthly things is probably never more relevant than with our responsibility to represent Christ to those around us. We easily pursue lesser objectives. But do we realize that “good” things in our daily schedule might be the “enemy of the best” from God’s perspective? Not surprisingly, the antidote prescribed is done in concert. Paul says, “Join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (v. 17).

My goal is to consistently evaluate my own ministry plans to ensure they are “Rapture ready” – in other words, in the moments when suddenly time is no more, will I regret my priorities just before his glorious appearing? The primary purpose given in scripture for urging us to not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” is the urgency of the Savior’s imminent appearing and the coming judgment for all those not in Christ “and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25).

I find myself focusing on everyday earthly challenges rather than looking for the opportunities I am presented with. It is a challenge to me to see Paul marveling at how his imprisonment exposed many to the gospel, rather than focusing on his own suffering.

Questions and ideas to consider:

• Are there hardships or challenges we are facing in which we fail to see the flipside of opportunity?
• Let’s re-assess how God may have placed you strategically and uniquely to love someone in Christ’s name … perhaps a neighbor, fellow worker, even the clerk who always checks you out at the store.
• Do you know someone you could start a conversation with by asking what they believe awaits us after this life? Listen to them, ask all sorts of questions till they ask you what you believe. Then share.
• Let’s each identify the areas we are personally tempted to busy ourselves with and have given priority to over more strategic options.
• Find a friend with whom you can share your most challenging issues and then hold each other accountable (truly for heaven’s sake!).

The reason scripture expects so much out of believers’ gatherings is that we are at our best when we are exhorting and holding each other accountable for the day when we can no longer say, “Hopefully I can get to it tomorrow.”

David