Coming and Going (reprinted by request)

I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
John 14:2c-4 NIV

It's dark outside. The neighborhood still slumbers. In the distance, I can hear the occasional semi rolling down the highway to pick up a load or drop one off. From here, it sounds like the drum roll of brushes on a floor tom. Further over, from the northwest side of town, I can hear the trains in the yard, clanging cars, full up with freight, getting ready to be on their way. The distance gentles the clang to little more than the muted wind chime on my front porch. In front of my home, to the east, not much more than a stone's throw, is the beach that borders the ship channel. Already I hear the soft bellow of a ship's horn, as the channel pilot steers the big ship safely to port or out. The symphonic sounds of the day begin...softly, slowly...the mystical music of coming and going...and I listen...

I know the day is coming - and it won't be long - when there will be a different blast from a holy horn. The eastern sky will be split wide open with the light of heaven. And on that day, according to The Message in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they'll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.

Jesus is coming and I'm going... wanna go?

John 14:6, Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Prayer:

Father,
          Finetune our ears to hear You. Prepare our hearts to know Your purpose for us. Create in us the desire to be ready for each and every day - to occupy until You come. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.