Except that the Lord will cut these days short all of us, did you get that, even “the elect” would fall.  We cannot begin to comprehend the tumult facing humanity when the damn of God’s mercy breaks.  I viewed the sudden ferocity of a mud slide yesterday, tossing cars down the mountain side as if they were driftwood.  That picture struck me as what would happen to each of us if God chose not intervene in our coming tribulation.  People think He’s kidding, or even worse they have convinced themselves that a loving God would never subject humankind to judgment over something so trivial as sin.  Yet they spend all their time, assets and thinking trying to free themselves from the commensurate guilt accompanying that triviality.  They will choose any other option, however nonsensical, other than the unavoidable reality that God told us we would all be judged for our actions in this life, just to avoid a judgment that they claim not to believe in.

I for one am looking forward to the end of this sham, where we have the freedom to mock the God who gave us the breath with which to mock Him.  It all seems devoid of any character or class.  Because of rebellion at the center of my being, I will carry others to judgment with me all for the sake of saying, “I may be in Hades, but at least I didn’t follow a loving God into eternal life like the other suckers willing to believe in His Sacrificial Redemption”.  It is such a sad and selfish tale that I find it hard to even recount.  We all have the free will to choose, but I truly doubt that so many would chance rebellion if they reflected on the third chapter of the Book of John even for one hour amazes the sensitive conscience.  In a few short lines man is forced to reflect upon the overwhelming love of God for humanity.  There is not one of us who would be willing to sacrifice our son to buy back the life of one of our colleagues.  And even if there were those that would be willing to bear some type of grand sacrifice, they would only do it because they understand how much God loves us.

What is coming to this world should not be accepted without careful contemplation, it should not be taken lightly.  This world and all that remain upon it, will subjected to the greatest series of pressures and tests that will shatter resolve, dissolve foundation and uproot solemnity.  Nothing will stand in the path of the wake of God’s triumphant Glory.  He has warned of all that will quickly come to pass.  He has lain out the path to safety and bid all come aboard the ark of His Covenant with believers.  He has demonstrated His firmness with regard to unrepentant sin.  There will be no excuses.  There will be no bystanders.  There will only be the acquitted and the damned.  We can ask for forgiveness now or receive none later.  It is the tension of two opposites and the force of the attraction that has held us together through the ages will be released repelling us to separate destinies.  One with God and one without.  Praise be to the God who values us enough to provide us a way to escape that coming judgment.  His name is Jesus Christ, the “risen” Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father, destined to rule and reign all of creation for eternity without end.  Amen.