Just over a week ago, from the time of my writing this, I experienced the strongest local earthquake that has occurred since my moving to Canada's shaky left coast four and a half years ago.

When it began to happen, I was sitting at my desk. At first it sounded like a big truck driving by behind our church. After a few seconds it sounded like a really, really big truck. Then I realized what was going on and that it was time to move to a doorway. The doorway I headed to leads to our sanctuary where a number of the ladies of our church were just finishing a morning Bible study. As the shaking intensified, with each rumbling wave, it was time take cover and hang on. Everybody's plan of action varied over the next 10 or 15 seconds that our part of the world rattled and shook.

I've been thinking about those exciting, adrenaline filled seconds and how long they were -long compared to the amount of reaction time there will be when Jesus comes back. The Bible tells us that His return will happen "in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:52)

When Jesus comes back there will be no confusion as to what might be coming in the distance. When Jesus comes back there will be no time to drop to one's knees and clear up accounts with God. No, when Jesus comes back it will be ready or not - TWINKLE - it's all ready over.

Our recent earthquake has me thinking about how to better prepare for the next trembler which could be the big one they say is coming some day. More importantly though, it has also reminded me to be ready for the coming of The Almighty One who has promised to come back and to do so quickly - so quickly that when He does come back we will only have time to twinkle.

Pastor Tim has retired from pastoring local churches and is now working alongside his wife to help refugees and persecuted Christians.

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