“You Take My Breath Away”

This is not a planned posting; rather a response to the sense of urgency that’s dominated the past few days. I’m asking myself and others “do we really understand what it means to be “a heartbeat away from eternity?” I mean, has it truly transcended beyond a theological understanding and into our heart of hearts that everyone we know; our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our relatives, and every person that we accidentally bump into while moving through the isles at Meijers, potentially could be in eternity before the sun rises tomorrow? There are souls in my household who are not ready to pass into eternity and I watch the battle play out daily. The enemy has my loved ones hooked on every form of distraction imaginable while the clock is ticking; not only on this present age but on each life as well.

This weekend saw a potential tragedy averted. It’s been mentioned previously that Dustin is back in the area. The whole relationship between Morgan and Dustin is like a hurricane that causes chaos and destruction wherever it lands. This weekend, they had a colossal arguement in our yard; an occurrance which has become “really old” and everyone is tired of it. Finally, Dustin took off into the corn field with a knife saying that he was tired of living and wanted to just end it all. In a moment; reality hit me. Suddenly the unfolding drama was replaced by the “real story.” Souls in the balance and one threatening to conclude his days because of a very unpleasent temporal situation. He disappeared into the corn surrounding our house and all I could do was pray. This corn isn’t like the genetically modified stuff that only grows four feet or so. It’s above ten feet and is only now starting to dry out. (Just a little) As he was heading out, Morgan was shouting words to the effect of “Go ahead; see if I even care!”

It’s both astonishing and tragic. When issues of eternal significance come forth and folks don’t even give it the time of day. They are so focused on this present world and satisfying the fallen nature that thoughts of the Creator; who loves them so much that he became flesh and paid for their sins with his own blood, don’t even cross their mind. And just as it required supernatural intervention to awaken everyone who is in Christ, it will require the working of the Holy Spirit to awaken those who are still held captive by the enemy. There really isn’t a moment to lose. All of the preceeding week, I had been impressed to pray fervently for Dustin. While I did keep him in prayer; it didn’t match up to the urgency that I was sensing. After a time, Dustin finally emerged from the field unharmed, however, this could have easily had a different outcome. (He told me later that he was afraid to go through with it. “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear”) When a person is at their wits end and feels as though they have nothing to lose, all speculation becomes a non-factor.

In short, on a beautiful, sunny, relaxing, late summer afternoon in Southwestern Michigan, a soul was but a single breath away from eternity. A soul with whom I’ve had much contact over the past two years; causing me to revisit my past actions. Have I caused scattering? Have I been as concerned about his soul as I should have been? Serious ponderings which, due to the eternal nature of the issue, demand answers and require us to make whatever adjustments are necessary. And while the situation with Dustin brought this issue “front and center,” the truth is that Saturday afternoon “was” the final moment for someone. Every moment of the day is someones last moment. Not a second goes by without an eternal soul, somewhere in the sea of humanity, sinking beneath the waves, never to be heard from again. I pray that all of us would be sober and understanding of just how late it is; not only prophetically, but also in terms of “tomorrow is not a promise to anyone.” May we strive to make every second count.

Well I have to be going for now. Lord willing, I’m endeavoring to hit the streets of Kalamazoo in a short while and Elkhart tomorrow. Over the past couple of weeks, an unusual thought has been in my heart concerning the tribulation saints; who they will be and where they will be gathered. This thing was dropped in my heart; that “those saints with whom I fellowship” during that time may not even be saved yet, but soon will be. A time when prophetic fulfilment in the physical realm is no longer deniable as everything is shaken. Then seed, which has been planted and watered for years, suddenly bears fruit. It’s a cogitation that’s not only intriguing, it encourages me to, all the more fervently, pray for those in my ambience. The Lord is truly doing a short work in these days. A few weeks ago, CRs brother, Paul, received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He was quickly baptized and now has an incredible hunger for the things of God. One can only praise God for “doing a thing suddenly” and makeing him a new creature. Well I have to run.

Blessings always in Jesus name.