The Blink of an Eye

Saw a quote today in the context of the Daytona 500 … “In the blink of an eye, you’re in the presence of the Lord.”

The quote was from Michael Waltrip, the driver who 10 years ago won the Daytona 500, speaking about what happened that day. The driver who was brought there by his team owner, Dale Earnhardt. The driver who was saddled with the knowledge that on the day he won the race, his greatest supporter lost his life. He has been dealing with that guilt … and not very well, by his own admission … for 10 years. And still he races.

I’m not a serious NASCAR fan but his quote sticks with me … it is so true. And it clearly relates to what we discussed at our Revelation study group this week. In passage after passage of the Bible, we are encouraged … warned, really … to be alert, to stay awake, to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. Tom our study leader noted that the “end days” may come in a day or a year or 100 years … he was talking about the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the world. But he also said that for each of us, it could come as early as tonight.

Are we ready for that “blink of an eye”? Do we realize enough that our own “end day” may come at any moment, when we least expect it? And what are we doing about it?

I pray that in having Jesus in our hearts and in our minds, as a role model for every word we speak and every action we take, we will in fact be prepared. Happiness will come not just from that preparation, but even more from knowing that “blink” is the beginning, not the end. Glory be to the presence of God, always.