The rapture may be this Saturday, but I'm planning to be in worship on Sunday. It's not that I don't believe in heaven, or think I'm not worthy to go. I do. I just don't think I should wait to float up into the sky to be with God-- to experience fulfillment, happiness, joy.
A Time Magazine poll revealed that 56 percent of Americans believe the "prophecies in the book of Revelation will come true." I wonder how many people that actually signifies who are anticipating leaving all their earthly posessions behind this Saturday. I can't definitively say it wont happen, but I feel pretty cynical about it. This is because I don't think our lives here on Earth are some elaborate entrance exam into something else. I think our earthly lives are not just a way to kill time until Jesus comes to swoop us up and away with him. I believe Jesus came to live among us to show us that we are capable of living in ways that allow us to experience God's kingdom here and now. Not just after the rapture.
However, in order to experience heaven on earth we need to change or evolve. We must take responsibility for ourselves, our communities, our planet. To be raptured might be a nice escape into a new world-- a fresh start-- but I don't think it's that easy. In her article Why I Want To Be Left Behind, Brenda Peterson shares that she hopes to continue her life here to "figure out a way to fit more humbly into this abiding Earth, this living and breathing planet we happily call home, we call holy."
So, for now I'm planning to live-- to continue to follow the path I believe God calls me to, to hope for a future where we live constructively and peacefully with all who share this planet. I will plan to be faithful in my pursuit of the kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Scripture this Week: March 18, 2012
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1 comment:
Thanks. I will see you Sunday also as we continue to share smiles, tears, joys, and concerns on good old mother earth. There are good times we left behind but also hope for rewarding days that lay ahead. These roads less traveled offer wonderful choices to light up your eyes. Fred
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