Left Behind Is Good

We mainline churches have often let fundamentalists hijack our sacred scriptures with highly marketable interpretations of Revelation and other apocalyptic writings. Ever since the '70s we have heard of but haven't paid much attention to "rapture, left behind, premillenial or postmillenial" writings. Yet these books have sold millions of copies and have even found their way into the History channel.

The problem is while Revelation has been interpreted in so many ways, we mainliners interpret everything from the Gospels. So, when it comes to apocalyptic literature, we listen first to the Gospels where Jesus said "no one knows the time, not even the angels of heaven, no one but the Father." That pretty much settles it for us while others just love to speculate.

With regards to things like the rapture and those left behind, we listen to Jesus who said, "It will be like the days of Noah...." In the story of the flood, all were lost except Noah and his family....it seems to me that Noah and his family who was left behind, ended up in pretty good shape.

I am looking at two men in the field...one is taken and the other left; two women grinding corn, one is taken and one is left....and I understand that there are those in my life who die before I do...I am left behind...and Jesus says, stay awake you who are left behind and see me in each and every day. Don't miss my grace, don't miss my presence, don't miss my love you who are left.

Yes, I am thinking, left behind is a good thing!