Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

When I was young, the Oak Ridge Boys were famous for a gospel song, “Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon, many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound. All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the sky, Going where no one dies, Heavenward bound.”

It had a snappy tune where you could pat your foot or clap your hands. People got very excited or emotional when the song would be on the radio or, dare I say, playing on tape. The song was written by R.E. Winsett and received the Song of the Year Award at the first Dove Awards in 1942. One could say yes, it will be happy to be with Jesus in Heaven. However, as you back up and look at the lyrics, “Many will meet their doom,” that is not such a snappy tune.

There is truly so much turmoil in the world that yes as Christ followers we can be happy as Jesus is coming soon. However, a wakeup call – to reach the “many.” Jesus was clear about us knowing how to realize and acknowledge his return.

“Then he continued by saying to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be massive earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of my name. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will provide you eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all people because of my name. And yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.’” (Luke 21: 10-19)

The word is unfolding before our very eyes, but are we awake and sensitive to what is going on around us and in the world today? Let us ask ourselves, “Are we acknowledge the evidences of things to come?” As Christ followers we must be active. Otherwise, we are not following. Let us pray this week for our brothers and sisters being martyred overseas, let us ask God to help us endure for the Kingdom of God.

Yvette Perrin is a columnist for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at theword2yvette@gmail.com.