There is a lot of talk about judgement day.   Like a dog worrying over a bone, the topic is hashed and rehashed.   And all that conversation is not only natural, it is compulsory.

But there is something about the nature of judgement day I don’t hear much spoken about.  In all eternity there is only one judgement day.  In a singular moment it dawns.  And in a singular moment it is done.

It is the work of Jesus to take us to and through  that day.  It is up to us to trust him and obey his commands.  Many will try but find themselves unable.

God alone knows what that day will entail and how long it will be.  But that day has a beginning and that day has an end. 

In a manner of speaking, we only have to make it through one day.

Some have followed knowledge and have said, “This is the way to salvation.”  Others have followed doing and have said, “This is the way to salvation.”    Still others have said,  “By faith alone are we saved.”   Thus they nullify both knowledge and doing.

Each has missed the greater picture.   For knowledge and doing hold hands by faith.

14  “The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. 15  The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”  (Deuteronomy 18)

What does luck, astrology or other inventions of man’s mind have to do with the holy people of the Holy Lord? 

Chance belongs to those who have no guide.  But Jesus never sleeps.  He knows what must come next.  And he is willing to lead us through the thorns. 

Luck and chance belong to those who traverse the wide open spaces.  But those who travel the narrow way must rely on the living God. 

Determine which you will follow in the next 10 minutes.  And when nine and a half minutes have passed make the choice again.  Yeah, the path is that narrow.

Peace, joy, sorrow, loss, gain, sickness and death are all promised to arrive at their appointed moment.  And how we would love to know the day they are to appear.  We would certainly greet each one with a bountiful table filled with preparation.  But who can know?

We are given one moment we can reliable say we know.  We call that moment “now”.   We could not have predicted precisely what would be upon us “now”.   And if we consider what is yet to appear, can we predict what will be?

Let us allow God to prepare us.  Did worry help us arrive at this moment?  Or did it siphon off energy we could have used more diligently somewhere else?

How would this moment be if we had simply believed our way to it?   Having arrived full of joy, might we have encountered a different “now”?

Peace and joy do not ever have to leave the “now”.   If the living God is ours.