How Close Are We, Really?
By
Camilla Smith
It was one of
those brisk,
gloomy November
days today. The
clouds were
thick and
oppressive and
the leaves were
blowing and the
wind was
gusting. Can you
stand yet
another walking
while listening
to gospel music
story? As the
blustery breeze
chilled my
bones, the song
“Midnight Cry”
by Jason Crabb,
came on the
player.
The first
lines, “I hear
the sound of a
mighty rushing
wind…” overtook
me and the tears
welled up. But
more on that
later.
First, I don’t
know how many of
you caught the
debate/forum on
TBN this past
weekend,
including Dr.
David Reagan,
Bill Salus, Gary
Stearman and
Pastor John
Hagee. If you
missed it, two
words—Google it.
After a
very detailed
discussion about
the coming four
blood moons,
their
significance and
what may revolve
around this
historic
“signal” from
God, the debate
turned into an
all-out
declaration that
“Jesus Is Coming
Soon!” The
panelists each
spoke of why
they believe we
are in the
season of Jesus’
return and the
decision was
unanimous—we are
there!
Second, if you
did not catch
The Hal Lindsey
Report this
weekend,
featuring Hal’s
interview with
the late, great
Jack Kinsella, I
have three words
for you—Google
that too. Mr.
Lindsey and his
“spiritual son”
carried on a
fascinating
tete-a-tete
about the times
we are living in
and the
difference
between other
“end times”
scenarios of
history and our
present
generation. The
conclusion: We
are the
generation.
Chilling,
thrilling,
absolutely
exhilarating!
Now to the
purpose of this
article. Once
again, I am
writing this
after feeling
much distress
regarding the
condition of our
nation’s psyche.
Dr. Jeremiah in
his message on
depression
yesterday,
stated that 1 in
20 adults in
America are
being treated
for depression.
He said it is
epidemic. I
don’t know the
statistics, but
in my line of
work, I would
say it is more
like 10 in 20.
Maybe higher.
The age group:
18 to
44-year-olds,
although to my
astonishment, I
typed a report
on a
five-year-old
with anxiety
today. And the
age group
obviously
extends into
middle-aged and
senior adults as
well.
Why? What is the
foreboding
feeling that is
invading our
minds and
dragging us down
to the depths of
despair? I
believe it is a
multitude of
things. First
and foremost,
Satan has
attacked this
earth with his
last-ditch
effort to take
souls to hell
with him when he
is ultimately
defeated by God.
Here in this
world, political
maneuvering is
bringing us to
the brink of
government
control in more
ways than one,
and people are
sensing this.
IF there
ever was any
security in
government, it
is gone now.
That has to take
a toll on the
affect of the
average person.
We don’t have
anyone to depend
on. Oh sure, the
government will
“take care” of
us, but is that
really what we
want? When the
trust is gone,
what is left?
Our
worldly security
blanket is gone.
You can’t even
count on your
retirement
funds. You can’t
even rely on
your savings.
You can’t feel
secure in your
job.
Food,
gas, insurance,
taxes and other
cost of living
prices are
through the roof
and income and
investments are
down (well
there’s the
stock market but
who can bank on
that?).
I don’t know how
people who don’t
have the promise
of a risen
Savior even make
it through one
day. It is hard
enough when you
do have the
comfort and
shelter that
comes with the
promise of
redemption
through Jesus
Christ.
But here is the
reason for my
waterworks
today. As
Christians, we
are being pried
from this world
on a daily basis
by God Almighty,
and as we are
being mentally,
emotionally and
spiritually
detached, we are
bound to feel
some sense of
loss. Loss of
friends, loss of
family members
of whose
salvation we are
not assured.
Okay, I will say
it, loss of
pets. I know,
that’s
ridiculous, but
while I was
walking around
our yard today
with my two
collies, I felt
a great sense of
grief come over
me while
thinking about
the souls who
will be left
here after the
Rapture…and my
dogs. I know God
provides for His
own. I know some
kind person will
take care my
pups, although I
would rather
they just have a
coronary after
they notice I am
gone, and be
gone too.
Somebody has to
say it. It is
ludicrous to
think about, but
I think about
it. Some of you
do too.
But even so, the
REAL tragedy is
the fact that we
will not be able
to lead some of
those around us
to Jesus before
it is too late.
And that is all
there is to it.
It is a cause
for great
anguish and
lamentation and
sometimes it is
nearly
physically
painful. It is
natural to
mourn, I
suppose.
I came across a
young teenaged
girl the other
day who flat out
told me she did
not believe in
God. It broke my
heart and I have
been haunted by
it ever since.
She talked about
wizard and witch
TV shows that
she likes to
watch, fantasy
and fairytale
books that she
likes to read,
supernatural
games that she
likes to play
and a pair of
13-year-old
lesbians in her
class. None of
this shocked me.
But when she
said she did not
believe in God,
I was crushed. I
put my arm
around her and
told her that
there is a God
and He loves her
very much. Stay
tuned for an
update on that
one.
All these things
cross my mind
while I am
outdoors
exercising. I
suppose it is
therapeutic. I
know it is
physically
therapeutic, but
sometimes it is
mentally and
emotionally
draining. Are we
just going to
live in this
limbo until
Jesus returns?
Well I guess we
are and I guess
we will have to
fall on our
knees and ask
God for strength
and wisdom when
these times of
sorrow and
bereavement
overcome us. I
was nearly
overcome with it
today. But then
a funny thing
happened. The
music touched my
soul again.
First, as I was
winding down my
walk it was
“Until Then”…and
the words “Until
then, my heart
will go on
singing…” All
right, I am
beginning to
cheer up now.
But it was on
the last lap of
my walk, when
one of the three
secular songs I
have on my music
player began
playing.
There is
that smile…it
was R.E.O.
Speedwagon’s,
“Roll With The
Changes” which
came blaring
through the ear
buds like a
sweet drink of
water. Oh yes it
did. Now I am
not saying that
God would send
me a 1970s
classic rock and
roll song to
alleviate my
somber mood (but
then I’m not
saying He
didn’t). God
knows when we
just can’t take
any more,
doesn’t He? His
timing is always
impeccable.
And so I jogged,
not walked, that
last lap. Oh yes
I did. And in my
mind, I thought,
“Keep on rollin’
” people…He is
coming soon!”
Camilla