Bible verse of the day Tuesday May 18th 2021

1 Thessalonians 5:6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

Before the early twentieth-century, storm warnings were limited to how well people could read the skies. There was no Doppler radar or Satellites circling the planet to give us a clear picture of approaching weather systems. Today things are quite different, we know days ahead when a storm is on its way and we have sufficient time to prepare.

People who hear these warnings believe that it is the truth, and it is evident by the way people behave. The shelves in the grocery stores grow empty in just a few short hours, hardware and building supply stores are overrun with people preparing their homes and businesses for the imminent approaching storm. There is another upcoming storm that we have been warned about for many centuries now. It is on its way and it will affect every person in every country on every continent. It should affect our behavior just as an early hurricane, flood, tornado, or tsunami warning would.

It is a sad matter of fact but there are only a few on the earth that are even aware of the warning of the storm spoken of in 2 Peter 3:10. Even sadder yet there are even fewer that believe it to be the truth. Peter adds a question to this verse of scripture, “what kind of people ought you to be?” Then in the next sentence, he answers the question for us (2 Peter 3:10-11).

There is another event that is also told of in the Bible that will occur and allow those who are prepared to miss the storm foretold in 2 Peter altogether. This blessed event is called the Rapture and it can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. Paul circulates a related plea to the Christians in Ephesus. In Ephesians 5:15–16 he writes, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." If followers of Christ Jesus fail to be vigilant to what is happening around us and the hopeless condition of those without Christ, how wil we spread the gospel of Christ to a lost world? In Ephesians 6:18 he admonishes believers to "keep alert with all perseverance."

Do not be fooled by Satan’s lies that there are many ways to get to God. There is only one way to be prepared for the blessed day when Jesus will come in the clouds and call His children home. That way is to accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, surrender your lives to Him and turn your backs on the ways of the world. Our precious Lord and Savior Christ Jesus makes it truly clear throughout the scriptures (John 14:6).

People love the pleasures of this life far beyond the great peace and joy found in Christ and that is why Jesus predicted how many would prepare after being warned (Matthew 7:14).