People Get Ready

Last night I had dinner with my mom and dad at Ruby Tuesdays in Summerville and we were talking about some of the connections we've made with old friends through Facebook. The mention of one of these friends brought to mind a story that brought a lot of laughs at the time. I don't recall how old I was.....maybe in the 9-11 year old range, but it was a Sunday evening after church was over and it was dark outside. My parents were still in the church for some reason. They were always church workers so we usually arrived early and stayed late. I was out in the parking lot and there were only 2 or 3 cars left. I didn't see anyone around. All of a sudden, I heard this trumpet start playing (and it was loud). I remember how fast my heart started racing because I thought Jesus was returning. It turns out, it was our trumpet player practicing a few runs. I don't know where in the world he came from because as far as I knew, I was out there alone. I can also remember times when I couldn't find my parents and thinking the rapture had occurred and I had been left behind. As funny as that seems now, I was thinking today that I honestly cannot remember the last time I've heard anyone mention the return of Jesus....maybe not since the "Left Behind" books were released.

This past Sunday's sermon was on death and being prepared for it. Whether we leave this earth through the gate of death or live to see the Second Coming of Jesus, we must ask ourselves, "are we ready"? Why has the church, God's people, stopped talking about this?

Tonight, one of my band members brought me a CD of some songs by Misty Edwards. One of the songs was called "People Get Ready". I listened to it on the way home and it literally shook me to the core. I had chills running up and down my spine. If you choose to look it up and give it a listen, I will warn you, it will probably be different than anything you've ever heard.

He's coming! Awake, awake O sleeper.
He's coming! He's alive.
Jesus of Nazareth, Son of David, born to be a King
Prepare the way.....people get ready
Surely He is not a man that He should lie.
He said he would come again and He will surely come again....
People get ready!
Fully a man but born to be a King - He's coming!
He's alive. Look upon the one we've pierced.
Who is this King of Glory? Jesus! Messiah!
The root and the offspring of David.
I can hear the rhythm of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!
The same way He ascended He will descend again.
Are you ready?
He's not a baby in a manger anymore!
He's not a broken man on a cross!
He didn't stay in the grave and He's not staying in heaven forever!
People get ready..... Jesus is coming!
Take the scroll and open the seals and come back for your people.
He is alive. People get ready. Jesus is coming!
People are walking around with their fingers in their ears
Singing da, da, da, da - I don't want to hear the sound of the coming of the King.
Are you ready, are you ready for this?


According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
– 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17