"Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine"
But, let's not put the cart before the horse. There's still a whole lot of imagining to take place. If you're reading this you're still on this earth. Breathing, waiting, planning and hopefully praying. So let's imagine this. You're at your job facing challenges to your workday. It's been hectic. There's been a myriad of phone calls, emails and texts. The noise in the office is buzzing at a high level. But suddenly there comes silence. A pregnant pause kind of silence. Which means this: "A pause that builds up suspension in the listener/viewer for a greater dramatic effect of what follows after the pause."
Now picture this. You can see a field. One with rolling hills full of every color of the rainbow. Majestic to say the least. You make out a figure in the distance. It's unlike any one you've seen before. You know it's definitely not a human form. On his right side, the figure is holding onto something bright and shiny. Blinding really. Most likely brass in nature. There is a feeling of intensity in the air. Like something special will soon happen.
You squint a little harder and see that the figure is looking off in the distance at what appears to be a raised hand. You look back at the figure and see it lift with both hands the object from his right side. Lifted right in front of its mouth. You can make out the dryness of the lips and hear a motor-boating sound to prepare for the moment of a lifetime. This moment has been talked about for a long, long time. Longer than anyone can imagine. Perhaps that's why you also sense nervousness too. How can you practice for something like this? It's a one-time chance to nail it for all to hear. The bright radiant object is now pulled into the moist, pursed lips of the figure. Off in the distance you make out the raised hand dropping quickly downward. The sound begins. Not a blaring, but a note that resonates like nothing ever heard before. It's the sound of the trumpet signaling the beginning. Yes, the beginning.
1 Thessalonians 4 13-18 brings it all into focus. 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For 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. 17 After 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Look around you. Take a real gooooood look. Who looks ready? Can you see anyone in that imagination state? Most likely not many. The common thought among believers is that Jesus is coming back. Just not any time soon. Not me. I'll grant you I have no secret information on when the time will be. But if you look at the Bible and you see how things are lining up....time is close at hand. So close that not only can I see it...I can almost taste it. Of this I can imagine.
YGG,
John
P.S. Not sure if you thought about this, but I know I have. One of the first questions I want to ask when reaching heaven is, who sounded the trumpet? Which ever angel it was, they deserve some serious accolades!!!
