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Remember the movie “Blank Check”? A kid is mistakenly given a blank check as hush money when a man accidentally runs over him and his bike. The kid decides to make it out to himself for a million dollars and begins a spending spree. He was living it up! The house, the toys, the pool, the games, the cars, the limo, the driver, the clothes, anything and everything you could dream of, this kid was buying it. He didn’t have a care in the world. He just did whatever he wanted.

He never dreamed what it would cost him.

He felt empty. Lonely. Isolated. All the money in the world couldn’t buy him happiness. The FBI was looking for him, or the “man” he worked for. The guy who hit him wanted his money back and was going to stop at nothing to get it.

Luke 17:26-30

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

Jesus is speaking to His disciples about when He will return. He referred to it as the days of the Son of Man. The Pharisees has been asking for a sign. The disciples also wanted to know when all of this would take place. Jesus shared with them it would be just like it was in the days of Noah and Lot.

So, what does that mean? Look at what Jesus pointed out. Eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, marrying.

What do all these things have in common?

They are part of every day life. But it was missing one thing.

Jesus was saying that people would just be living their life as they wished. They would be doing whatever they wanted, living it up, but eventually that “good time” would run out. It would cost them. Because in all of their doings, they had forgotten something.

Someone.

They had forgotten God.

They had walked away from His truth, His authority, His will for their lives.

And judgment came.

Jesus said that the world will be doing the same – living their lives the way they want apart from the truth of God’s word- and then the day will come for judgment.

Luke 17:31-36

“In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

When Jesus returns, some will be taken to heaven and some will be left behind. This is known as the “rapture”. Believers in Jesus Christ will be “caught up together” in the sky. They will be gone in an instant. And those that have chosen their own way and rejected Jesus, will remain here on earth. They will face the coming judgment, just as the people in Noah and Lot’s day.

People living the way they want. Completely ignoring God’s truth, rejecting Him, His way, His will and His authority.

Sound familiar?

Jesus is coming soon, friend.

Will you be taken to heaven or left behind? And whatever your answer is to that, the question is why?

Why would you be taken to heaven? Is it because of your goodness? Your good deeds in this life? The only way to Heaven is by putting your faith and trust in Christ to save you. Following Him with your life in surrender to His will, His way, according to what it says in the Bible.

If you haven’t done that, there’s only one other option. Left behind. Left to face the punishment.

You don’t have to go through that. You can live eternally with Jesus in Heaven. You no longer have to feel alone, isolated, abandoned, or empty. Jesus loves you so much, He paid a debt you owed but could never pay. He gave His life so that you could be free from your sins and punishment forever.

Will you accept Him?

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