TJ sat in
his parents’
living room
taking the
tongue
lashing he
deserved but
had no time
to hear. He
could feel
his cell
phone
buzzing in
his pocket.
It’s
Saturday
night, and
the plans
are hot!
“TJ, I don’t
know what
else we can
do or say.
We’ve tried
hard to be
good
parents, to
teach you
God’s ways
and be there
for you.
Lord knows
we’ve
prayed.”
TJ rolled
his eyes,
invoking his
father’s
anger, “TJ,
your mom
deserves
better.
You’re
sitting here
in our
house,
asking for
us to bail
you out
again. You
can take our
money but
you won’t
take our
advice?”
“Honey, you
know we love
you,” his
mom cried.
“And we’ve
only wanted
God’s best
for you.”
TJ
again hints
at disgust.
“This is the
last time,”
T.J.’s
father said
in no
uncertain
terms. After
tonight,
there is no
more bailing
you out.
You’re on
your own.”
Barely
hearing
those words
of warning,
the only
thoughts
resonating
in TJ’s mind
were, “Who
cares. It’s
party time.”
TJ’s dad
walked over
to him and
handed him
some money.
He hastily
grabbed the
cash and
stood up
without any
hint of
thanks and
made his way
to the door.
“TJ,
please can
we pray
before you
go?” his
mother
pleaded.
“Mom, I’m
sorry, but
I’m in a
huge hurry.
Next time,
okay? I
promise,
next time.”
“TJ, what if
there is no
“next time?”
His mom’s
words fell
on deaf
ears.
Running out
to get into
his car,
taking his
phone out of
his pocket,
TJ hurries
to text his
buddies:
“Dude’s, the
party is on!
Be there in
fifteen.”
Arriving at
the “club,”
he strolls
in through
the door
past a long
line of
people.
Acting all
cool, and
being a
close buddy
to the guy
working the
line, TJ
breezes
through. Now
playing the
“big man”
tipping the
guy for all
to see, he
thinks he’s
gaining the
whole world,
yet he is
dangerously
close to
losing his
soul. Once
inside he
shouts, “Flu
Shot” to the
bartender,
his favorite
drink (Yager
and Red
Bull), just
to start
things off.
Tossing it
down, he
lets out a
loud
euphoric
scream.
His eyes
catch his
buddies
racing
toward him.
The music is
blaring and
scantily
clad women
are dancing.
TJ thinks to
himself,
“This is the
life!”
Corona after
Corona,
dance after
dance he
continues to
buzz. It’s
only 11:00
p.m. when
suddenly the
music goes
quiet. The
TV monitors
all over the
club are
tuned into a
National
Emergency
Alert. News
anchors on
every
channel are
reporting
shocking
news:
“Suddenly,
without
warning
millions of
people all
around the
world have
disappeared!”
The
atmosphere
in the club
immediately
turns
somber. The
partying
stops. Wails
and screams
are the only
sounds that
can be
heard. TJ’s
heart races
and his
throat
swells-up,
overtaken
with fear.
Taking his
cell and
scrolling to
“home,” he
hits the
“send”
button. The
phone rings.
No one
answers.
Extreme
panic takes
over his
entire
being. “NO
GOD. NO.
PLEASE.” He
calls his
mom’s cell.
NO ANSWER.
He quickly
dials his
dad’s cell.
NO ANSWER.
TJ knew the
truth. He’d
heard it all
his life. He
heard the
sermons but
refused to
believe
them. He
heard his
parent’s
warnings and
pleas, but
simply tuned
them out. He
was too
arrogant and
pre-occupied
with
pleasing his
own selfish
lusts and
had hardened
his heart.
He had
neglected
such a great
salvation
and now
Jesus had
called His
church home,
and TJ was
not ready.
He
would now be
faced with
living
through the
horrors of
the
seven-year
Tribulation,
the most
horrific
time that
planet Earth
will ever
face; a time
so terrible
that unless
God shortens
the days no
flesh will
survive.
TJ’s life
was now a
nightmare
turned
reality, all
because he
was too full
of HIMSELF
and NOT
READY. (Be
sure
you are ready.)
Footnote:
This is the
third in my
series of
short
stories,
Preludes to
the Rapture
collection.
Please feel
free to
download the
stories as
formatted
and use them
as
witnessing
material.
Tim Cameron
timcameron@centurytel.net