[28] And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
I remember as a young teenage boy, hearing preachers constantly preaching on the rapture. They were warning sinners to get right, because Jesus may come at any moment. They would remind them that if the rapture took place, and they were not ready, they would be left behind to face God’s wrath and judgment.
They would prod the saints to stay busy and fervent, so they would not be ashamed when he comes. We don’t hear as much of that preaching as we used to, but it’s still in the Book. Our text is not speaking to the lost, but to the saved. John is telling the saints that they need to be ready for the rapture at any moment. To be saved, but not rapture ready, means you will be ashamed at his coming. This is what our verse states. However, we do not have to be ashamed. If we will follow the Spirit’s leadership in our lives, and surrender to him, we can have confidence when he comes. We can be looking for, and anticipating, his coming.
The church used to be filled with saints who were ready for the rapture. They would come to church ready to worship and go home ready to witness. Most churches today have lost sight of this great truth. They have lost hope or have become so worldly that they do not want him to come. They like the world they live in too much for it to be interrupted with his coming. They do not long for his return as they once did. In spite of the apathy we see today, I have good news, Jesus is still coming again! The rapture is at hand! Live your life today in light of the truth that he could come at any moment. Make every decision today based on this one truth, and you will find yourself rapture ready!