The majority of us have probably been in or around church most of our life. We’ve heard the stories dozens of times, and maybe even told them ourselves. We know the lingo, can quote the verses, and “believe it all with our whole heart”. But sometimes, I’ve noticed a personal tendency to become so used to hearing the same messages and praying the same prayers that I forget the reality of what I’m claiming to believe in.

For example, if you’re anything like me, you’ve heard about the return of Christ since you were very young. Even if you didn’t always believe in it, you’ve probably seen your fair share of church signs proclaiming “Jesus is coming soon!” along the highway. Whether it encouraged you, or just caused you to drive a little bit faster, we’ve all been there.

The problem we often face, however, is that this often causes us to forget the truth of these messages. If we’re not careful, heaven can be reduced to a lyric in a song, and the second coming of Christ to a message worn on a t-shirt. No, it’s not wrong to wear the t-shirts and post the signs; it’s simply our neglect to continue taking it seriously that creates the problem.

The dangerous thing is that Christ’s return is something we can’t afford to forget about, for the Lord said in Matthew 24:44, “…in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Amazingly enough, I’ve found that it is in fact possible to forget about the rapture even if you sing about it every week in church! Nobody is exempt from this.

Whoever you are, let us never forget the reality of these things we hold to be true. It’s easier than we might imagine.

"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city."

                            -Genesis 19:14-16

I recently finished reading all the way through the Bible, and have just started again with the book of Genesis. With that said, it has obviously been a long time since I read about the destruction of Sodom and Gamorrah, and I noticed something brand new yesterday as I was reading this passage of Scripture: the words, "while he lingered." In verse 14, Lot was doing everything he possibly could to save his sons-in-law, yet in verse 16 the angels of God had to pretty much drag him away from his home so that he himself would be saved.

If you read this entire chapter in Genesis, and then turn over to the New Testament and read about the second coming of Christ, you will doubtless see many parallels between the two. God destroyed Sodom and Gamorrah, but first saved Lot, just like He will destroy this earth after first delivering His saints from the wrath to come (I Thessalonians 1:10; II Peter 3:10, 12). However, just as Lot "lingered", I'm afraid that many saints of God today are doing the same. Jesus has told us that we must always be ready for Him to return at any time (Mark 13:32-37), and yet many of us are still unprepared.

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

                            -Matthew 25:10-12

When Christ comes, we will either be prepared or unprepared. If we are unprepared, there will be no more second chances, no more do-overs, no more restarts. We've got to make ourselves ready today.