It seems like any minute we will hear the trumpet sound of the upward calling from heaven and ascend to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17) because we have never before been closer to the end times than we are now. But this is a Christian rapture. Are you ready?
[Jesus] said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. (John 8:23 WEB)
‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Acts 2:17-21 WEB)
Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling [anó -: the upward calling made in heaven cp. Heb 3:1] of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you. Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind. (Philippians 3:12-16 WEB)
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT)
And even more than a Christian rapture, this is a soldier’s rapture, an athlete’s rapture, and a servant’s rapture. The verb in Philippians 3:12 to “press on” is the same verb in Philippians 3:14 “press on”, which carries the idea of intense endeavor to win the battle, win the race, and reach the goal. Are you ready?
How are you living your Christian life? Are trying to win this race all by yourself. Or are you “Letting go and letting God.” Both extremes are wrong: (1) I must do it all, and (2) God must do it all. Neither extreme prepares us for the upward calling from heaven.
Consider the biblical examples warfare and athletics. The war is not won or lost based entirely on the actions of a lowest-ranking foot soldier, or entirely on the direction of the highest-ranking general. The super bowl is not won or lost based entirely on the actions of a single player, or entirely on the coach’s plans. In everything in life, we know that everything is a team effort. There is God’s part and there is our part.
If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, having the promise of the life which is now and of that which is to come. This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:6-10 WEB)
If you aren’t sure that you are ready for the upward calling from heaven, please take a moment to get right with God.