Ready or not, here He comes!

                                

 About a week ago some of my good friends came down and we had a worship service for several hours on Saturday. It was amazing. While they were here, they gave me a Misty Edwards CD. I must say it is quite an amazing CD! Misty Edwards undoubtedly has an anointed voice and sings songs that have power. When we were worshipping and listening to the CD, we skipped track number 7 because it sounded “creepy”. However, when I took the CD home something inside me continually hounded me to listen to that song and see where such an anointed lady was going with the melody and lyrics. So I did, and it is an AMAZING song! This weekend I participated in a 48 hour prayer battle. I don’t say battle to sound cool, that is literally what we did all weekend. We fought against the powers that are ruling over our area. It was tiring and hard to fight through, but it was necessary. In the midst of battling we had worship time, we shared with others, and we read the Word. One of the songs that we played on the first night was “People get Ready” by Misty Edwards because I wanted all of my fellows to hear the “creepy” song that has moved my Spirit so much. This song is now our battle cry, and I would now like to share it with you. 

The song starts off by simply saying “He’s coming” over and over again. 

This is a simple and strong reminder that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is not gone forever... He is coming back to get us, to rescue us from this fallen world and take us to paradise with Him. Or, if you happen to be someone who does not have a relationship with Him, He is coming back to claim His people and you will be taken to your eternal dwelling place-- Hell. I pray that everyone reading this blog is on the first end of the stick and that the words “He’s coming” are a joyful reminder that there are better things than this broken and hurting world rather than a harsh warning that you are living wrong and you will pay the price for what you have done. Now that does not by any means imply that the ones who are going to Heaven are perfect, holy, or by any means deserving of the mansions we will receive. It simply means that we have accepted the beautifully wrapped gift of salvation, redemption and grace that our Lord died on a cross to give us. He still wants you to accept it-- if you have yet to do so, it is not too late. 

This is followed with “awake, awake O sleeper”. I find these lines very powerful. This phrase is implying that the church needs to wake up from our slumber and do what we were sent here to accomplish-- spread the Good News. We, as a collective church body, have got to stop sitting back and watching young children be hurt, families be ripped apart and people all over kill themselves because they feel like there is no point in continuing in this life. We have to stand up. Wake up from our comfortable position of “it’s easier to sit back and watch and say ‘amen’ to the good word the preacher gives” than to stand up, step out of our comfort zone and be the Christ followers we are called to be. I am just as guilty as anyone else. It is not always easy to follow what God has for us, but He assures us through the Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us, He will not put us through anything that is too difficult for us to make it through and He will ALWAYS be there for us. So, lets stand up. “People get ready!!” 

We are only at the beginning of the story as Misty Edwards points out. There is so much more to come. If you have read the Bible all the way through than you will know the end of the story too. I will let you in on a secret, it has to do with the harvesting of the good and bad people. With God bringing His followers into eternal fellowship with Him. With streets of gold and mansions made from fine jewels. It is called the coming of Jesus-- whether we are ready or not, He will be coming back and He will lay claim to everything on this earth. 

After this, the song slowly begins to rise in tempo. It gets more intense and Misty Edwards slowly begins chanting “I can hear the rhythm of the Lion of the tribe of Judah”. All I can say is that gives me chills! Can you hear the rhythm? Can you hear His voice? I can say that there are times when I hear His voice plainly, and other times when it takes me a while to listen. We have to tune our hearts and ears to what He is telling us. 

My chills do not leave until the song is completely over and probably a little while after that as well. The next part is filled with power. “He is not a baby in a manger anymore! He is not a broken man on a cross! He did not stay in the grave! And He is not staying in Heaven forever!” WOW. We cannot be like Ricky Bobby and pray to a little baby Jesus when we bless our meal. He grew up. He was pierced for our transgressions and buried in a grave. BUT-- He is not in that grave anymore! On the third day, He rose and He ascended to Heaven! The story does not end there either! He is going to descend and claim us! He is coming back for you and for me! That should move something inside of you! The king of all creation loves me enough that He died on a cross for me and is going to leave His throne in Heaven to come back and take me home with Him! AMEN! Are you ready? If He showed up today would you be ready? Would you be able to recognize Him when He walked up to you? Would you recognize His voice? Would you be able to look into His eyes and say “My Jesus, I love you, and I have lived my life in a way that is honoring to you.” If not, maybe you should evaluate what needs to change in your life. I sure have and that list is definitely full.

God bless you and keep you!