QUICK  AS  A  BLINK.

    Larry kicked the pebbles from the path as he walked home after an unhappy school day.  His special friend Ross was sick. Ross also missed days at school to help his widowed  mother who worked long hours to support her children.

    However, at school Larry heard whispers that many boys and girls missed classes. ‘It must be the cold weather, mused Larry, thinking of colds and ‘flu.  But Larry missed Bob and Ross as they usually walked home together from school.  As well Ross always called for him to go to Kid’s Club and Sunday School. 

    And when Bob tried to talk about God, Larry often laughed.  But this day they both missed school. 

    As Larry reached the street corner the boy who sold papers shouted ‘Buy your paper here.  Read of the train accident.  Driver missing.’ Larry frowned as he walked by the paper-boy, who called out again, so that passers-by stopped to buy a newspaper.

    Larry trudged on home.  He kicked a stone away as he crossed the road to his home, where he pushed open the gate  and walked  along the drive way and around to the back door.

    ‘ Hullo, Mum,’ he called, as he stepped into the kitchen where Mum usually waited for him.  However, Larry walked into the room, threw his schoolbag on the bed, and returned, wondering at his mother’s absence.  Perhaps she was shopping and would soon return.

    But Larry waited – and waited – and waited.

    So he turned to the radio in time to hear the announcer, ‘Bus crash.  Train driver missing.’  Further, many businesses reported absence of workers.  Again they blamed the cold weather and cold and flu.  One man rang the police to report that a brother was missing.

    Larry wondered at this strange news, yet pondered ‘ where is my mother?’  For comfort he took two pieces of bread from the cupboard, covered them over with jam, and sat thinking.  Suddenly at the click of the door he expected his mother to walk in.  But , no, his father walked in and slumped on the chair, home early from work.

    ‘Where’s your mother?’ asked Mr Footer.  Larry shook nervously. 

    ‘She’s not home yet.  Where is she, Dad?’  His dad answered , surprised, knowing that Mrs Footer always waited for Larry.  While looking perplexed, he had heard rumours of people disappearing.

    Larry patted his father’s arm.  Lately, Mrs Footer frequently talked about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Larry thought that was only for people who were religious, some thing like his friend, Bob. And Dad agreed that Mother became far too serious about her faith. 

    ‘ But, now, where was Mother?’  

    Together Mr Footer and Larry read the newspaper which father had brought home.  ‘Train driver disappears mysteriously. ‘ Below came the heading,’ Doctor disappears from operating theatre.’  Theatre nurses missing, also the hospital cleaner.’    

    Another story told how Mrs Brown of Watkinsville walked along the street to catch a bus with her friend.  Suddenly she realised her friend was gone.  So she turned and walked back to her friend’s home, but no-one answered the door bell.

    Even the baker’s bread burned because he disappeared with no-one left to supervise the bakery.  So, the mystery deepened. 

    Mr Footer telephoned the minister’s home, but no-one answered.  He rang a church deacon.  Ah, fortunately, he answered.  But was it good?  

    And so it continued.  Some families remained, with others missing, whop seemed to disappear as quick as a blink.  Before long the mystery began to unravel.

    The Lord Himself had come from heaven, and in the twinkling of an eye, all the true christians were caught up to be with the Lord in the air, and to be with Him forever.

    So the christian train-driver had gone.  The operation ceased because the doctor loved the Lord Jesus, and was ready for Jesus’ coming.  And Larry’s mother now joined the Lord whom she recently trusted.  The church’s rectory or home , became empty because the godly pastor and his christian wife and family now resided in heaven.

    Sadly the deacon remained, because he only appeared to be a christian.  He worked well, but relied on his good works instead of the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, to get him into heaven.

    Mr Footer and Larry began to talk about these strange events ,and their meaning.  So they found Mrs Footer’s bible.  Inside she left the story, telling how she believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, because He died on the cross to pay the price for her sin. She wrote of her assurance that she was ready for the time of Jesus’ coming for those who trusted Him.  However, to their surprise, they read the message on the back of the note. ‘I pray that my dear husband and son will trust the Lord Jesus Christ, and one day we shall be re-united in heaven’.

    Larry remembered his mother telling him of the coming of the Lord Jesus for christian believers. She called it ‘ a blessed hope’. He wished he had taken notice of her. Now he and his dad were left behind. 

    As Dad placed his arm around his son’s shoulder, he said, ‘Larry, I think we should read Mother’s bible.  It’s not too late for us to make sure we are ready to meet Jesus when we die.  We may still trust in her Saviour.’ 

    Mother, Father, young men and women, boys and girls – be ready for the time when Jesus comes for those who love Him.

    Be certain you are ready by repenting and turning from all sin, believing that the Lord Jesus paid your sin-price when He died on the cross. 

    Then you will be ready for HEAVEN.  It is a wonderful hope.

Gwenda wrote this article twelve years ago; long before Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins produced their amazing series, LEFT BEHIND.’  Make sure you read these!  

Read John14, verse 2; 1 Thessalonians 4: verses13-18 ;  2 Thessalonians 1 verses 7,8.