When the Thief Arrives

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.          1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NLT)

We live in an age that is very, very exciting.  Events happen every day in the Middle East that are possible signals of the beginning of the end.  Christ could be very near.  The church could go home at any moment. 

These events are inescapable; they are inevitable. 

It is my sincere prayer that you are ready to meet Him – either in death as His angels carry you to heaven, or in the air as Jesus comes for you in the rapture of His church.  He is coming – you just don’t know when – but you do know He is coming!

Wilmer McLean was a farmer in the Shenandoah Valley in 1861.  In the spring of that year two powerful armies met on his property—the Union army under General McDowell and the Confederate army under General Beauregard. The bloodiest war in American history began at Bull Run, a creek that ran through McLean's property.

McLean was not at all sure why the armies were fighting, but he was quite sure he did not want them fighting on his property.  If he could not change the course of the war, he at least did not have to be part of it.  McLean decided to sell out and go where the war would never find him.

He chose the most obscure place in the whole country—or so he thought – an old house in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  Four years later General Grant was pursuing General Lee through Virginia.  In Appomattox County, Grant sent a message to Lee asking him to meet and sign a truce.  The place where they met to sign the peace that ended the Civil War was Wilmer McLean's living room! 

Some things you cannot get away from.[1]

The coming of Christ to claim His bride, the church, will be suddenly, without warning.  Remember, Jesus Christ described His coming as a “thief in the night”.

And the thief rarely sends a telegram, email, tweet or text to announce his presence; he never uses the front door.  He’s in and out before you know what happened!

For you, today

I pray you’re ready.  If not, turn to God now and place your trust in Jesus Christ.  Forgiveness of sin is the “readiness factor” for the arrival of the thief.

And while you’re at it, tell somebody else today, a friend, relative, neighbor or co-worker that you’re ready; you’re prepared for when the thief arrives. 

It’s called Advent; preparing for His coming!

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[1] James R. Edwards, The Divine Intruder (NavPress, 2000), p.154

Titanic's Last Hero

John Harper was born into a Christian family May 29, 1872.  He became a Christian 13 years later and had already started preaching by age 17.  He received training at the Baptist Pioneer Mission in London, and in 1896 he founded a church, now known as Harper Memorial Church, which began with 25 worshipers but had grown to 500 members by the time he left 13 years later.

In 1912 Harper, the newly called pastor of Moody Church in Chicago was traveling on the Titanic with his 6-year-old daughter.  After the ship struck an iceberg and began to sink, he got Nana into a lifeboat but apparently made no effort to follow her.  Instead, he ran through the ship yelling, "Women, children, and unsaved into the lifeboats!" Survivors report that he then began witnessing to anyone who would listen.  He continued preaching even after he had jumped into the water and was clinging to a piece of wreckage (he'd already given his lifejacket to another man).

Harper's final moments were recounted four years later at a meeting in Hamilton, Ontario, by a man who said:

I am a survivor of the Titanic.  When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. Harper of Glasgow, also on a piece of wreck, near me.  "Man," he said, "are you saved?"  "No," I said, "I am not."  He replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

The waves bore him away, but, strange to say, brought him back a little later, and he said, "Are you saved now?"  "No," I said, "I cannot honestly say that I am."  He said again, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," and shortly after he went down; and there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed.  I am John Harper's last convert.

He was also one of only six people picked out the water by the lifeboats; the other 1,522, including Harper, were left to die.[1]

The Rest of the Story

Kit Carson, a member of Hyde Park Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, told me "The Rest of the Story" regarding Rev. Harper, who was Kit's Grand Uncle. 

It seems Harper was noted in his congregation for giving things away.  Once, during a fierce winter in his native Scotland, John's mother had gone to great expense to get him a new overcoat.  He was a student at Bible College, and poor to boot.  Within a week he had given the new coat to a street person, saving the ratty old one to wear for himself. 

It is natural for people that unselfish to give the gospel away too. 

Today

Are you willing to give away your most prized possession?

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[1] Elesha Coffman, "Sacrifice at Sea," Christianhistory.net (8-11-00), adapted from The Titanic's Last Hero (Moody Press, 1997) © 2000 PreachingToday.com / Christianity Today, Inc.