A Blink Away

0:00A Blink Away by Dr. Ronda Wells. And let us not grow weary of doing good. For in due season, we will reap if we do not give up. Galatians chapter 6 verse 9. Today, Lord willing marks my 45th wedding anniversary to my soulmate. That day seems only a blink of an eye away. Blink twice, two children, blink again. Our parents are gone. Blink, we have a teenaged grandchild. Blink, we both have gray hair. While this remarkable Christian man made our marriage easy, we have seen our share of sorrows. We lost two children to miscarriages.

1:01My health has been plagued by chronic illnesses, multiple injuries, and surgeries. Caring for four elderly family members at the end of their lives as we muddled through jobs and raising our kids was not easy. By faith in God, we pushed through. One step in front of the other, looking ahead at the cross and not to the sides. In our culture of frequent divorce, we often get stunned reactions when strangers ask how we make a marriage last this long, like we are extraterrestrials. Our answer, perseverance. It's not just self-will. Perseverance involves faith in God's promises. The Greek term, huppomone, means to bear up under a heavy load. Think of an ancient servant loaded down, carrying his master's armor.

2:06Bent over, struggling along a bad road, he still whistles happily, knowing he will be rewarded for doing a good job. That's the attitude we should have towards suffering. It's not easy with chronic pain or dealing with difficult people or severe grief. The blink of an eye puts it all into perspective, though. While we were still newlyweds, a drunk driver plowed into my husband Dave's car and totalled it. Dave's head broke the windshield and he needed stitches. Bad about wearing his seatbelt, he has worn it ever since. Jesus promises he will return in the blink of an eye. Listen, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

3:08For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 52. Have you suffered yet persevered? Are you ready to meet Jesus? He is truly only a blink away. Make a list of your greatest sorrows. Can you see where God intervened or led you? Why do you think bad things happen to good people? How can you answer when others ask that question?