“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the father.” (John 14:12 NLT)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 NKJV)
It seems that many of us who follow Jesus as his disciples today make the same mistake as his original disciples. Like them, we seem to think that our lives would be so much better, and the benefits of living in his kingdom would be so much more powerful, if only we could be with him in his bodily form.
Back then, they begged him not to leave (his ascension). Today, we beg him to bail us out (rapture) or return (second coming). In each case, his answer to us is that it is better for us that he is with the Father and we are in the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (here and now).
The power of God is in the Gospel, not the Rapture. The presence of God for today is best expressed through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, not the bodily return of Jesus.
I for one am in no hurry to abandon this earth. There is so much more to do. I am in no hurry for Jesus to return and remove the opportunity for those in need of salvation to respond to the Gospel. Just like my Father, I don’t want anyone to perish.
As long as there are those in need of salvation, healing, deliverance, provision, or any other touch from our good and loving Father, I am thrilled to be able to partner with Him in expanding the manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven throughout the Earth.
Our Father who lives in Heaven (your eternal kingdom of light and perfection),
Your Kingdom come (manifested and demonstrated in and through me here and now),
Your will be done (your desire and design for me me fully expressed and experienced in my life here and now),
On Earth (here and now) as it is in Heaven (in the same way and to the same degree).
How can I even think of bailing out when I have been supplied with so much to give out? I will remember…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 357: Bail Out or Give Out?