Word Count: 776

Contact Jerry Ousley

Mid-Air Conference

by Jerry Ousley  
7/08/2011 / Christian Living

Meetings can accomplish a lot but they can also be a total waste of time. Let me illustrate. When I was a pastor we had a business meeting each month. During those meetings we would make decisions that decided the budget of the congregation, the projects we should be involved in and we elected leaders to govern the body. These were very productive meetings for the most part.

However, in several of the jobs I've held over the years I've been involved in meetings that weren't so productive. People would toss around issues that would affect the lives of others and more often than not the meeting would adjourn with no decisions made whatsoever. No one knew what to do to resolve the situation and so nothing was ever done.

The last job I had involved several hours of meetings each and every week. I got sick of going to meetings. They had a meeting on nearly every aspect of the business including production, personnel, finance, information technology and sales. I'm surprised that they didn't have a meeting to decide on janitorial issues, but then, come to think about it once in a while they did that too!

The Bible speaks of a meeting and not just one that won't decide anything. It is probably one of the most important meetings that will ever take place. I call it the mid-air conference. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." What a meeting!

Now it's just like man to disagree on things. In fact, I'm certain that we've had meetings regarding this great meeting. There are varying opinions as to just when this meeting will take place. I suppose in the world in which we now live it's important to know the dates and times of meetings we are supposed to attend. But that isn't the case with this meeting. You see elsewhere in the Bible we're told that only God knows the exact time and date of this meeting. It's one that we won't miss unless we aren't ready for it. If we have committed our lives to Jesus Christ and we are a Christian in the true sense of the word (not just a label to indicate our religious belief), then when the time comes we are certain to be there. Even death won't keep us from this meeting and in fact we're told in the scripture that those who have died before will be there first.

Some tell us that this meeting will take place just before the beginning of what the Bible calls the Tribulation, while others say that it will take place in the middle of this Tribulation. Still there are some who believe that it won't happen until the end of the Tribulation. I have my opinion and belief but I want to say that while it is informative to know the truth it isn't a requirement to attend this meeting. The only requirement is to be saved, born-again, and washed in the blood of Jesus. If we are then other interpretations, while they may aid us in our faith, really has no consequence as to whether we're invited to this meeting or not. All those who have fufilled the qualification of salvation are invited and will be in attendance.

What's this great meeting all about anyway? It's about getting together finally and forever with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We aren't meeting just with other believers but the main focus of this calling together is to meet the Lord. We'll meet Him in the air as He beckons to us to come. When He sounds the trumpet we will be instantly signaled to the assembly. And it's going to take place quickly too. Another scripture tells us that it will happen in the time allotted for an eye to blink. That's quick! No getting ready, no waiting around for late comers - nope! In that quick millisecond of time the dead will rise first then we who are alive and remain will be caught up and we will meet the Lord in the air and we are further told that from that day forth we will always be with Him. I don't know about you, but that's one meeting I don't dread and wouldn't miss for the world!

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Jerry Ousley

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer