SURPRISE Encounter!

Matching vacuum cake made by ‘Miller Cakes’. Ron enjoys repairing old vacuums he finds, then giving them away to anyone who might need one.

Mark 13:36 ³⁶If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.

I never thought I could pull it off without him knowing. It was my husbands 70th Birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a party he never expected. I did! Not without a huge amount of help, of course. I had many people behind the scene creating, buying, planning, inviting, decorating, cleaning and of course, keeping everything a surprise until the big day! Over 90 of our friends and relatives gathered at a nearby park and celebrated the day with food, a roast of the guest of honor, and many activities the children could enjoy on a perfect summer day.

I often wondered as I planned the day what was it going to be like when I see his surprised look? Would he be happy for all the attention? Would he be upset that I made such a big fuss over him? What would his reaction be?

My husband pronounced it ‘perfect’! That was the best compliment I could have received!

We can ponder another surprise that will know will be perfect! Christ’s return to gather us home! So much planning has gone into making sure everything is ‘perfect’ for our arrival!

1. John 14:1-3 – NIV
   • 1. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
     2. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there …
     3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also …

The invitations have been sent out. The responses are coming in. The excitement is building. He is decorating and getting so excited to finally have us home. He just has not told us when this incredible event will occur!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ¹⁶For 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, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever.

Since there is a prerequisite for going to this event, we must always meet thee standard and be ready because we, the guests are the ones who will be surprised!

1. John 14:6 NIV: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There was a point, very close to the party when I had to assure my husband that he had to dress a nice way for our day out. Fortunately, he was cooperative and dressed properly. He even followed the directions on the GPS-without knowing where we were going! There comes a time in each of our lives when we must trust God, follow His commands, and do the right things. Not only will we be rewarded with a blessed life in this life, but we are also promised the SURPRISE ENCOUNTER of a lifetime when we meet Jesus face to face!

So, how about you? Are you ready to meet Him in the air? There is only ONE way, Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, turn from them and be forgiven. Then, you wait and be ready because we never know when He will return for us and we will have that Surprise encounter in the heavens! See you there!

GOODNESS IS ACHIEVED NOT IN A VACUUM, BUT IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS, ATTENDED BY LOVE.