WOW: 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Growing up, I was something of a tomboy — a tomboy who lived for adventure.

As such, the thought of skydiving always appealed to me.

I mentioned that fact to my father a couple of times when I was little, but he refused to grant me permission to try it until after I turned forty. “If you still want to jump out of an airplane at that age,” he assured me, “I won’t stop you.”

He was a smart man.

Forty came and went, and I’ve yet to strap on a parachute. It’s not that I’ve ruled out the idea completely — perhaps I’ll follow George Bush’s example and take the jump when I’m 90. But for now, skydiving seems an unnecessary risk.

Especially since so many of my children are still young and in need of the tender, loving care only a mother can give.

These days, I’m far more interested in being caught up into the clouds than in free falling through them. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen, provided I’m still alive when Jesus comes back:

“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

As we celebrated Resurrection Sunday this past weekend, I was reminded again of how quickly the disciples forgot what Jesus clearly told them would come to pass. For the most part, they were shocked to find Him missing from the tomb… were startled to see Him standing in their midst, undeniably alive and well.

I wonder how many of us will experience similar surprise when Christ returns?

He has told us plainly what to expect. Are we eagerly waiting and watching for his coming?

This week’s memory verse (1 Thessalonians 4:17) can be found in the second set of our Scripture Memory Flashcards: