The Coming Train

Jennifer and her friends were dropped off at the mall where they hung out for a while before deciding to make their way to the local bus station catch a ride downtown. As evening set it, the four teenagers ignored the “no trespassing” sign and made their way onto the railroad trestle that overlooked Crane Creek. Bruce Dumas, a local fisherman called out from below, “be careful up there!” But the warning seemed to fall on deaf ears as the four carelessly continued across the trestle. Soon the final warning came. The howling whistle of a fast approaching train. The girls froze with panic. Charlie Foust, another fisherman, called out from below, “Jump into the creek!”

Instead of heeding the warning, the four began to run frantically towards the nearest end, but only for an instant before the impact. While boy made it off the tracks, the girls didn’t. Tragically the train took the life of three teenage girls. Similarly, another train is coming. It’s coming to take the children of God home. This great event is known as the second coming of Christ. And like the warnings on the tracks, the warning signs of Jesus soon return are all around us, but so many, like the careless teenagers, are not preparing for the event. Instead, most are carelessly indulging in the devils sinful delicacies and when the train comes, instead of being joyful that their ride home has come, they will be unprepared.

While many today many claim that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation," (2 Pet. 3:4) things are not the same. Like the ignored warning signs on the railroad trestle, there are warning signs all around us and yet Jesus said, "You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times." (Mt. 16:3) In spite of popular opinion, Jesus is coming back. He said Himself, "I will come again." (Jn. 14:3) He didn't say He might come again. He said He will come again. And His coming is drawing very near.

It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the world is not the same as it has always been. Just look at the morals of the world fifty years. Did you know that they couldn't even show people sleeping in the same bed on television? Now even young children are constantly exposed to sex and violence. While violence has always existed, we didn't see the kind of crimes we see today to the extent that we see them today back in the fifties. There was a time when the streets were safer. There was a time when you didn't have to worry about being shot in school. Sure, there was always crime and immorality, but not to the extreme that we see it today. That's why the Bible says that immorality "will grow worse and worse." (2 Tim. 3:13) Add to that the increase of technology.

Did you know that the Bible predicted that in "the time of the end...knowledge shall increase." (Dan. 12:4) Today we can't even keep up with the technological advances. Again, think of life only a hundred years ago! Then there is increase in natural disasters that even the experts can't explain. Again, the Bible predicted it. (Lk. 21:11) Did you know the Bible also predicts an economic crisis in the last days? (Jas. 5:2-8)

I could go on and on, but the point is, in spite of what many say, things are getting worse. That's why the Bible compares the second coming to "labor pains." (1 Thes. 5:3) Like labor pains, the contractions start slow and are spread out, but they get more intense and closer together as the event nears. Sure, these things have always been, but not to the extent we see them today. The train is coming. The signs are all over. Please, don't ignore them.