Mark 13:32
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
I find myself checking the clock numerous times per day. I'll venture that you do, too. It may be, for me, in anticipatory mode, making sure I'm departing on time for an appointment, or casually, deciding if it's time to rouse myself out of bed. Is it time for my favorite news program? Will Mom be ringing me up soon? (Yes, we chat every day!)
Nevertheless, when I happen to glance at the clock, and the time 9:11 is displayed, my heart inevitably skips a beat. My mood is instantaneously altered as I am plunged back to that horrendous date in our country's history. Yes, I'm old enough to recall the horrific assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy, all so infinitely heartbreaking. But this date, this time, this place, this tragedy, I now witness and live through with my own children.
I had hoped they would never have to suffer through such a tremendous loss as this . . .
Their anxiety, their questions, their fears in the aftermath of 9/11 break my heart. How can I possibly answer them reassuringly when I, myself, am confused, angry and profoundly grieved by these vicious attacks upon the greatest nation the world has ever seen?
Time has passed since that fateful day, but does time heal all wounds? I would say, "No." Time's passage can alleviate some of the pressure and pain of that moment experienced years ago, but it doesn't relieve the angst of remembrance. Yet thankfully, the memories evoke prayers for the families who still suffer the fallout from these brutal and senseless attacks.
Jesus' judgment is coming. We don't know the day nor the hour. But for those 3,000+ lives lost on that fateful day, their journey is ended. Were they prepared? Did they know of God's ultimate salvation?
These are questions which can never be answered, as their voices, their love for life, were extinguished in those brief, violent moments. Moments never to be forgotten by those of us who stand as witnesses.
None of us know, or can know, the day or the hour of Christ's return.
But may we all live each minute of every day, expectant and ready, when Jesus comes to call.
Amen!
You can help the families of 9/11 victims, as well as those of soldiers and first responders killed in the line of duty, by donating to Tunnels 2 Towers.
"But may we all live each minute of every day, expectant and ready, when Jesus comes to call."
ReplyDeleteWe never know when it will be our turn to go. I am right now in turmoil about family members who have turned their back on God.
Thanx for this good post, Martha.
God bless.
Oh, no, Victor, I'm so very sorry to hear that! I, too, have true concerns about some of my family members as well, but just continue to pray for them as that's all I can do. I'm sure you are doing the same for your loved ones, my friend.
DeleteLove and blessings!
I concur with Victor. I, too, am in "hurt" because of a family member who has turned his back on the Truth and is going his own way. he is not a bad guy. He loves his wife and son but has chosen to pursue nothing. But I also agree with you: no one knows the day or the hour. Stop trying to predict. Just be prepared.
ReplyDeleteBill, it is so heartbreaking when someone we love turns away from the Truth of Jesus. Believe me, I know that pain, too. As I told Victor, we just need to continue to pray for them.
DeleteAnd yes, may all of us be prepared for that final day.
Love and blessings!
Beautifully put! Like you, I'm ever mindful of the clock; what lies ahead in the coming hours. But not once have I paused and taken a deep breath, expecting Christ's return. Lifting my coffee mug, "To life!"
ReplyDeleteI'll lift my coffee mug right along with you, Mevely, and toast to life in Jesus! I'm so glad you enjoyed the post today.
DeleteLove and blessings!
None of us really can know the date/time that we will stand before God face to face. There is a surety of knowing my fate, but the heartbreak of watching our loved ones and not knowing for sure if our paths will be allowed to cross on the other side of life. For those whose lives end in tragedy, one can only hope they had the opportunity to enjoy the peace of knowing, even if just for a moment before their lives on earth were tragically ended. Prayers for those who are still suffering... physically, emotionally, spiritually.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Ryan! Let us continue those prayers for those left behind, not just in this tragedy, but in so many others as well.
DeleteLove and blessings!
"But may we all live each minute of every day, expectant and ready, when Jesus comes to call." Amen! Thank you, Martha. Praying for and along with others here. Love and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteYes, Trudy, may we all keep praying that we are prepared and ready for the coming of the Lord.
DeleteLove and blessings!
None of us know, minute to minute, what will happen next. Yes, we all need to be ready. Thank you for this reminder.
ReplyDeleteNo, Terri, we can't possibly know in advance, but we can wait with hope and expectancy, as Jesus urged us to do. Know I'm praying for Joe and you!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, we don't know when Christ will return, and we do not know if we have tomorrow. I just found out that a beloved sister from Bible study unexpectedly went home to be with Jesus. She was young.
ReplyDeleteWe must live each day with gratitude and service to our Lord so that should He come in our lifetime, we are found loving and serving.
Thank you for this reminder, my friend.
Absolutely, Beckie! We must live every day with gratitude and service to God, as you said here. Saddened to hear that your friend was called home at a young age - always so difficult to understand and accept, though we know God has His reasons.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Beautifully expressed, Martha. When my son was about 11 or 12 he came out of the shower, threw a towel around himself, opened the door, and called for me. He sounded like it was a crisis. I ran to the bathroom. There he was with an anguished look on his face. "Mommy! What if Jesus comes back when I'm in the shower?!! I'll go up to Heaven naked!!!" I guess he wanted to be prepared but fully clothed! I still laugh about it today. We are one day closer! Hallelujah!
ReplyDeleteOh, Diane, that is such a funny and heart-warming story you've shared here! Kids are great, aren't they? But naked or clothed, it won't matter to our Lord when that day, that hour arrives. All He will care about is the state of our hearts.
DeleteLove and blessings!
No, time does not heal wounds, only God can do that. Thoughtful post, thank you.
ReplyDeleteRight you are, Marja! Glad you enjoyed the post today.
DeleteLove and blessings!
I will never forget that awful day either. I was teaching at the time and ion the classroom with a bunch of very scared teenagers until we were dismissed early to go home and be with our families.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about that verse from Mark this week. Great minds...! :)
Yes, I was teaching, too, Laurie, and I'll never forget the shell-shocked looks on my students' faces all that day. I don't recall being dismissed early, though, but maybe it was because Georgia was such a physical distance from where the tragedy took place.
DeleteOn a brighter note, it is amazing when great minds think alike!
Love and blessings!
How wonderful that you talk to your mother every day, Martha! I wish my mother were still here to talk to as well. This year is the 10-year anniversary of her passing.
ReplyDeleteI am a clock-watcher too. I almost always am aware of what time it is, for better or for worse. When time does catch me off guard, I'm always proud that I loosened up enough to forget about it for a bit. ha.
I wish you still had your mother to talk with, too, Lisa. Losing a parent is a sadness we never truly get over.
DeleteAnd I'm glad to know I'm not the only clock-watcher! I think it stems from my desire to always be on time for any function. I do love it, though, when I'm so engrossed in a good book that I lose all track of time. That's the best!
Love and blessings!
I was just thinking how wonderful that you are still able to talk to your mother every day. Someday you will look back on this and be so glad you did, but will also be so sad when you can't just call her up anymore and hear her voice. Sorry to say that...but that is what I've experienced so many times...have often wished there were phones in heaven! But the day will come when we will all be together again forever and ever, thanks to Jesus and Calvary! And yes, I do watch the clock as well. I don't go out the door w/o my watch, even tho I have a cell phone. And we have clocks everywhere in the house...the bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchen, living room and here on my computer...sometimes the clock is a tyrant, keeping me from staying and visiting here as long as I would like...but duty calls... Thank you for another excellent and wonderful post. God bless you dear friend. Now, what time is it? Oh, good, I still have some time before I need to go start cooking supper... LOL
ReplyDeletePamela, I do realize how blessed I am to still be able to talk with Mom every day; so many of my blogging friends, like yourself, have lost their parents and in-laws and miss them terribly. Wouldn't it be great if there were phone lines in heaven? I know I'd be talking to my dad every day, too.
DeleteAnother clock watcher? Glad you're in the club! We have clocks everywhere in our home, too, so in a sense, time follows me throughout every room. Just can't escape! :)
Love and blessings!
I check the clock so many times a day, too. There are specific numbers that are so significant, and I only recently realized how very important numbers are to God. The Bible is chock full of them. I, too, will never forget that day and how horrific it was for the whole nation. Those images of people jumping out of the windows still haunt me. Oh, dear Lord! It surely pays us to be ready at all times because we don't know when our personal time will be to leave here nor do we know when our Savior will return. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteYes, Cheryl, may God help us all, indeed! And come to think of it, the Bible does contain loads of different numbers. I will be more mindful of that as I read through the Scriptures.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Neat insight into time and God's coming, Martha. I too think that way when I see 9:11. Or my birthday 3;18/ I thank God for life when I see that time. You have given me something to ponder this evening. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI think, Jean, that there are so many of us who lived through that tragic event see those numbers as pit-in-the-stomach time. It's great, though, that 3:18 gives you a happy birthday reminder. Mine would have to be 3:01! Glad this post gave you something to think about tonight.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Thank you for sharing these insights, Martha! Yes, it's so important to be ready, because none of us know when our time will be up or when Jesus will return.
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings!
We must be prepared, each and every day, for the Lord's coming, Kim. I wouldn't want Him to find me not ready!
DeleteLove and blessings!