SWEET TIME

Are you ready to give up and die and go home to be with the Lord Jesus? There are some folks who see no need in hanging on in this world fighting against the daily pressures of life. I’m not talking about suicide, but the life that is exhausted by fighting the good fight of faith. They’re just done with conflict and ready to enter into the joy of the Lord. Occasionally it is a sickness or disease that speeds up the decision to depart.

I remember my uncle calling me a few weeks before he died. He told me he had only one more place to go. I asked him, “And where is that?” He said, “Up!” His mind was willing but his body was weakening every day. When I went to see him, a few days later, we began to talk about old times and once again he brought up being ready to go see Jesus. I told him that he was not going to live one day longer than the Lord had planned. His departing was not sweet sorrow but a sweet hour and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God’s own sweet time.
But, some Christians want to die when they have trouble. It’s not so much that they are longing to be with the Lord, as it is that they desire to rid themselves of the pressure of tribulation when it presses in on them. It is true Jesus prayed that His followers would ultimately be where He is but not at the first sign of calamity. “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. (John 17:15-16)
Christ prays that His people not be taken away immediately to heaven. He desires for them to stay here. Jesus leaves us in God the Father’s hands. Jesus knows that since we abide in Him and produce the sweet juicy fruit of His kingdom it is necessary for others that we stay a little while longer.
Jesus does ask though that we be kept safe from the evil one. That is significant and should bring you contentment. It is a great notion to be where Jesus is—it is much better by far. But like Paul, we would have to agree that that view is a selfish one outside of God’s own sweet time. Our sweet rest will be here soon enough, nevertheless, we must be at work for the night is coming. Until then, let your prayer be to glorify God with your life right here right now! Even in the middle of your grind, and suffering trust God’s own sweet time to say “It is finished.”

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