My family and I just finished a move to St. Joseph, Mo. In seventeen years, my wife and I have moved 17 times. At times, the moves have been a mere few blocks. In other instances, the moves have been across the United States.
Often when people year how many times we have moved, they ask if we are in the military (due to the relocation required). No, we are not US military, though we are in the army of God. Unique circumstances have simply brought about the moves each time.
We have found that many people may have moved only once or twice in their entire lifetime. It may have been a long time ago since they experienced a “Moving Day”. Yet, there will come a time in all of our lives, where we will experience “Moving Day”.
1Th 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
1Co 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
From these verses, it is clear to see that there is indeed a “Moving Day” coming. It is a day in which we shall leave this earth. It is a day in which we shall be with the Lord in the heavens.
With each “Moving Day” I have experienced, there have been surprises. A mirror may be hanging on the wall after the packing is done. A drawer may not have been emptied. Something may be dropped and broken. The weather may pour down rain… or snow. There is always an unexpected event waiting to occur on “Moving Day”.
When Jesus comes again to lift us from this earth and to Judge all of mankind, there will be no surprises for Him.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jer 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
The Lord can see all things and knows all things, there will be no surprises for Him come “Moving Day”. In regard to a Christian’s “Moving Day”, we can be certain of no surprises as well.
1Co 15:1-2 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
We make the decisions in our life as to how to behave. Thus, good or bad, there are no surprises. We know what decisions we have made in life and who we have chosen to follow.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.
Are you prepared for “Moving Day”? I do not know who ever said it first, but the words “Preparation is the key to the start of any great adventure” hold fast in my mind. There have been some moves I have engaged in where I was not fully prepared. Even in small moves, if you are not prepared, the experience is not a pleasant one. Over time, I have learned that an investment in boxes, tape, and a moving truck are great a great help! Not waiting until the last second to start packing is also a plus on the preparation side. It is important to call credit card companies, creditors, post office, water company, gas company, and all others who need to know about your address change. What happens when you have a lack of preparation is called chaos. This often results in destruction, anxiety, and unpleasantness.
Spiritually, we need to make certain we are prepared for “Moving Day”. We need to spend our lives telling folks about our address change. Letting them know that someday, we are going to spend our eternity with Christ. Let them know they are going to be moving also and that Christ has room for all who follow Him.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
If we have made investment in preparation our “Moving Day” experience is going to be great.
Psa 10:17 Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear;
2Co 8:12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.
You don’t want to be unprepared for your own wedding day, your “Moving Day” is just that time! The time when we move to be with the groom for eternity.
As with not being prepared for a physical move, if we are not prepared for the spiritual move we also will experience destruction, anxiety, and unpleasantness.
2Pe 3:7 but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Are you ready for your “Moving Day”? Normally, with a physical address change, we know the time in which we are leaving. However, this is not always the case. The date and time of the coming of our Lord to move us to heaven is unknown.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Luk 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Dear friends, “Moving Day” can be a good or bad experience for us. However, the experience of our spiritual move can be a joyous one. We know moving day is coming. We know we can avoid surprises on that day if we are prepared. We know that regardless of the day of Christ’s appearing, if we are ready, we will rejoice!
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.