June 4, 2002, Ron Cutting, Prestatyn, UK

Soon and Very Soon (II)

During a recent Worship and Remembrance Service Jack Rowlands quoted “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” This prompted me to write about an incident which gave me much food for thought, and was quite scary! My wife, Joyce is a genius at disappearing, she could give lessons to the ‘Invisible Man’, I was out one day and on returning home I found that our back entrance door was unlocked, so I walked in and called out “ Hello!, sweetheart, I’m home” (Like you do, fellows!) but was greeted by silence. I went from room to room and could not find Joyce anywhere. I went out into the garden (her favourite hideaway) and in the process found that our patio door was open, (Strange!) And searched around the garden without success. If I tell you at this point that we always lock up prior to leaving the house, this really puzzled me, as I did expect her to be at home. I thought about this, made myself a coffee, checked my E-mail's, looked for a message from Joyce on the computer and then carried on with some jobs I needed to do. An hour passed, still no Joyce, so I called at my neighbours, in case she was occupied in a protracted conversation and lost track of the time. She was not at any of the neighbours, who answered their doors. (Stranger still!) It was now lunch time and I was more than peckish, what do I do? Wait and see if she returns, have a look in the ‘fridge to see what leftovers we have? I know, maybe she has gone to visit family, or they needed her in an emergency and she has rushed off, forgetting to lock up. I telephone the family, but no reply. By this time I am becoming really anxious, had she collapsed and been taken to the A&E at the hospital, Oh! Where is my wife? What has happened? Being a Christian and knowing some of the teachings in the scriptures, I begin to wonder and wonder, has the Lord returned and she has been taken and I am left behind. The Lord Jesus clearly told his disciples that at the end times He would return and “ two men will be in the field ; one will be taken , the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” ( Matthew Chapter 24 verses 40 -41) this really made me think, am I really saved or have I been living a lie all these years, yet the Lord has blessed my life, but the scriptures do say that the sun shines on the righteous and unrighteous. Then I remembered an occasion many years earlier; a friend, from a different Christian persuasion, telephoned and said , with some relief “I am really glad to reach you, I’ve tried to ‘Phone (and he gave me a long list of mutual Christian friends) without success and I thought the Lord had returned and I’d got it wrong!” Isn’t it strange how your mind works in a crisis? But it has served to prompt me to do some spiritual stocktaking and maybe this account may prompt you to do likewise. To aid you I am listing some scriptures for you to look up read and consider: Matthew Chapter 24. ( the whole chapter but in particular verses 36 to 44) Luke Chapter 21 verses 5 to 36. 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 13 to Chapter 5 verse 11 2 Peter Chapter 3 ( written to encourage a church under extreme persecution just as it is in some parts of our world today) I do hope that, having read of my ‘scary’ experience you will be encouraged to look into these things and make sure of your soul’s salvation. Oh! And incidentally, Joyce was visiting a neighbour but they had not noticed that I was looking for her.