The "Is This the Last Time?" Rapture Syndrome
Sept 15, 2017 17:13:49 GMT -6
watchmanjim, whatif, and 7 more like this
Post by watchman35 on Sept 15, 2017 17:13:49 GMT -6
Wondering if anyone else is dealing with what I call the "Last Time Rapture Syndrome"? The symptoms of the syndrome are as follows: you find yourself doing the mundane tasks of life on this earth in the 21st century, while your mind frequently drifts to the question, "I wonder if this will be the last time I... (fill in the blank)?" I just finished balancing the check book and paying bills, when the syndrome manifested strongly again. I could not help but wonder if this might be the last time I pay bills here on this earth. Oh, the joy of the thought!
On a somewhat related note, I would like to share a personal testimony of God's kindness towards me in the area of finances and debt. One of the personal confirmations that leads me to believe we are going home soon is that the Lord has, just in the last 30 days, paid off my debts for me (all except the house, which I always thought of in terms of renting from the bank anyway). When I was at my worst with my Lyme disease, let's just say my spouse was not the most frugal steward with our family finances. At one point, we were probably 40-45K in debt on credit cards. I HATE credit cards, but I digress. Some may think it silly, but I had sincerely prayed and told the Lord that I would really like to leave this world with no debts, first and foremost as an honor and testimony to Him, and then secondarily as a matter of my own desire to walk in integrity before Him. Well, over the past maybe 18 months, the Lord moved on the heart of one brother to give me $28,000 to pay towards my debt. Then the Lord gave me enough restored health to go back to work full time in June of 2016. And last, just within the past month, He turned a lump sum disability settlement related to my Lyme disease, which I expected to become a net additional $5,000 tax liability because I had to turn the entire check over to my private disability company, into a $10,000 divine windfall, which covered the remaining $9900 balance on my last credit card. I mailed that check in a couple of weeks ago. (Yes, I still use snail mail...I know, I am the guy in the credit card commercial who pulls out his checkbook and brings the line to a halt while everyone glares at me--although I did start using my Discover Card recently at the grocery store
) I came into this world with nothing, and I am about to go out of it with nothing. And it is well with my soul. I will be forever grateful to the Lord for helping to erase my debt, including my credit card debt, but far more powerfully and importantly, the debt of my sin that I could never have paid in a trillion years. Thank you, Abba, for paying the debt for my sins with the blood of Your Son. Thank You Jesus for dying in my place. Thank you Spirit for sealing me with eternal life. I am ready to come home now, Abba. I don't need a big room in your mansion. Just a small room somewhere close to You will be just fine with me. Better is one day in your courts, than thousands elsewhere. Maranatha!!!
On a somewhat related note, I would like to share a personal testimony of God's kindness towards me in the area of finances and debt. One of the personal confirmations that leads me to believe we are going home soon is that the Lord has, just in the last 30 days, paid off my debts for me (all except the house, which I always thought of in terms of renting from the bank anyway). When I was at my worst with my Lyme disease, let's just say my spouse was not the most frugal steward with our family finances. At one point, we were probably 40-45K in debt on credit cards. I HATE credit cards, but I digress. Some may think it silly, but I had sincerely prayed and told the Lord that I would really like to leave this world with no debts, first and foremost as an honor and testimony to Him, and then secondarily as a matter of my own desire to walk in integrity before Him. Well, over the past maybe 18 months, the Lord moved on the heart of one brother to give me $28,000 to pay towards my debt. Then the Lord gave me enough restored health to go back to work full time in June of 2016. And last, just within the past month, He turned a lump sum disability settlement related to my Lyme disease, which I expected to become a net additional $5,000 tax liability because I had to turn the entire check over to my private disability company, into a $10,000 divine windfall, which covered the remaining $9900 balance on my last credit card. I mailed that check in a couple of weeks ago. (Yes, I still use snail mail...I know, I am the guy in the credit card commercial who pulls out his checkbook and brings the line to a halt while everyone glares at me--although I did start using my Discover Card recently at the grocery store
) I came into this world with nothing, and I am about to go out of it with nothing. And it is well with my soul. I will be forever grateful to the Lord for helping to erase my debt, including my credit card debt, but far more powerfully and importantly, the debt of my sin that I could never have paid in a trillion years. Thank you, Abba, for paying the debt for my sins with the blood of Your Son. Thank You Jesus for dying in my place. Thank you Spirit for sealing me with eternal life. I am ready to come home now, Abba. I don't need a big room in your mansion. Just a small room somewhere close to You will be just fine with me. Better is one day in your courts, than thousands elsewhere. Maranatha!!! 
