Are You Ready for the Big BOO?

This has been a week of remembrances.

My mother died on February 28, 2002. Her death-bed experience was one of a kind. At least I’ve not heard of another like it.

We were prepared for her death. It had been a sweet morning of “Mama” taking her last sip of coffee.  My two sisters, Keith, and I had repeatedly patted her arm, held her hand, and expressed our love for her. We huddled around her as she lay in her bed at home. She closed her eyes and took her last breath. Eyes fixed on Mama, tears rolled down our cheeks. Then, to our surprise, she popped open her eyes and said, “BOO!”  Can you imagine if that had been your beloved elderly mother? We laughingly scolded her, “You’re supposed to be seeing angels!”  Mama got wha she wanted – smiles on our faces. Then, she closed her eyes and went to be with Jesus.

A Big BOO Came

The celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead is approaching. Hebrews 13:20-21 sums it up well. It’s a verse on which I’ve been meditating. Please read it s l o w l y:

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

The grandeur of this verse expresses the big “Boo!” of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Can you imagine the surprise BOO of Jesus’s appearance after you’d seen Him crucified and buried?

A Big BOO is Coming

The prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah. Yet, they weren’t prepared. The Bible tells us Jesus is coming back to earth. And, it’s going to be the biggest BOO! of all times. Are we prepared for His arrival?

How to Prepare for the BOO!

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

Repent of Sin. Confess Jesus as Lord who loves you and died for you.  Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5: 8.

John 3:16 says “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have eternal life.” 

So, in other words, when my mother took her last breath, her soul didn’t die. She’s alive. She’s alive because God didn’t penalize and condemn her for her failings. She accepted the “great exchange” God provided in Jesus. He took her shame. She took His righteousness. It’s what we would do for our children if we could. It’s what our Heavenly Father did for us.

Serve in Gratefulness

I don’t need to say this if you’re a Christian. You know it. You’re doing it. Someone dies for us, we live for them. We do anything for them. We’re appreciative beyond words. Our hearts overflow with appreciation. We’re daily mindful of their sacrifice. We cannot do enough for them.

This is why I’ve been meditating and praying Hebrews 13:20-21; personalizing it in a prayer. Perhaps you’ll join me as we approach the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

A big BOO! is coming. In anticipation of Jesus’s return to earth, we can increasingly please our Heavenly Father by doing His will through the equipping of the indwelling Christ.

Heavenly Father, God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, equip me in every good thing to do Your will, working in me that which is pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.