It was summertime, and my husband and I packed up the car and started out from Portland for Kinzua, a busy logging community in central Oregon. We were planning to have vacation Bible schools for the children living in several logging camps. We’d been given our directions: follow the Columbia River Road to Arlington, turn south to Fossil, then east to Kinzua.
By noon we’d left the pasture lands of Arlington and were heading deeper and deeper into the desert. Finally we arrived at Fossil, a town as dead as its name. Everything was dry, dusty and dreary. We stopped to recheck our map. Yes, it really did show we were only eight miles from Kinzua, but there was not a tree worth cutting anywhere to be seen. That seemed mighty strange since it was logging camps we intended to visit.
Sometimes those of us who are Christians don’t realize how close we are to heaven. We could be there today—out of this sin-cursed world and with our blessed Saviour in the twinkling of an eye.
We were hot, tired and unbelieving, but we had only one choice—to follow the directions and keep on going. God has given us His directions too. They can be found in His precious Word, the Bible. We need to study it closely and follow it carefully.
We hopped back into the car and began to climb toward Butte Creek Summit. Just four miles now to Kinzua and still no trees. And then, suddenly, we were at the top of the mountain. What a sight! All down the eastern side of the mountain the trees were thick—thousands of them—tall, strong western pines! We had arrived!
One day the Lord Jesus Himself will come from heaven with a shout to suddenly take all the believers, and we will have arrived home! What a moment that will be! “So shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Only those of us who belong to the Lord Jesus will be taken to heaven when He comes. For those who are left behind here on earth, it will be too late! The door to heaven will be closed forever. They will be left behind for judgment!
Today there is still time to come to the Saviour. He has not closed that door—yet. If you are thinking right now, “Maybe tomorrow,” stop for a moment . . . not one of us knows if we have a tomorrow. Come to Jesus right now! “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)).
ML-11/29/2015