One of the worst things I experience when watching my team play is the dreaded extra time and I can those famous words ‘they think it’s all over’.
It is okay if we are losing, but quite often we are winning and our team is under pressure to see out those last few moments. I am longing to see the referee put that whistle to his mouth and blow full time, in fact, I am always trying to encourage the referee just to do that!
The manager and coaching staff on the sideline have very much the same feeling, constantly looking at their watches and wondering what on earth is this referee doing. Why is he not blowing for time? Has his watch stopped? Then there is such a relief when the referee blows his whistle!
You know this is very much what we followers of Jesus are waiting for. You see we believe that there is going to come a time when God himself will blow full time on the things of this earth.
What we tell you now is the Lord’s own message. We who are living when the Lord comes again will not go before those who have already died. 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16
In fact, the very early followers of Jesus longed for this event. The apostle Paul actually believed he would be alive when this event would happen. Unfortunately, the referee (God) has not blown His whistle during his lifetime.
2,000 years on and the referee (God) still has not blown His whistle. Of course, it won’t be a whistle. As the verse reminded us it will be a trumpet. It will however be like the referee. You will not know when that whistle is going to blow.
You may think well it’s been 2,000 years since that promise – I’ve surely got a bit longer? Remember we may have gone into extra time but the referee may not give all that extra time or he may go over that extra time. It is a waiting game till he blows that whistle. Both teams do not know when it will happen. Therefore they have to concentrate fully until the final whistle.
I agree it has been a long time since the promise but I am not prepared to take a chance. I have decided to follow Jesus now so when that referee (God) blows the trumpet I will be caught up in the air and meet Jesus.
Let me end this week by reminding you that I believe we are in extra time. It is, of course, my own personal belief but I believe we are well and truly into the second half of the game and I would ask you to consider if Jesus was to come today what would your position be.
I’ll leave you with this one thought. Followers of Jesus win the match. No matter how long extra time is we win because Jesus has already won the victory for us, and He has for you too if you will accept Him as your Lord and saviour. I pray a blessing over you this week and that you will give this your full consideration.
Stay safe and blessed.