Tent dwellers and the rapture
It was noted in the Bible about Abraham, the man of faith, that he lived in tents as he was looking forward to the city built and designed by God (Hebrews 11:10). This is information that typically slips unnoticed by the average Bible reader because the general assumption is that most people in the Bible times lived in tents. But let us consider two bits of information here:
1) Abraham was one of the richest men on earth during his time - he had several cattle and silver and gold (Genesis 13:2)
2) Storey buildings, of the high-rise type, had been invented before Abraham was born. Remember the tower of Babel? It was a massive multi-story building project and it was no sand-castle - the builders had the know-how for creating structural materials like mortar, brick, etc. (Genesis 11:3-4).
So why did Abraham choose to live in tents when he could have built himself a magnificent mansion to put his wife and child and servants in with, his all his riches? Because, as the Bible put it, he LOOKED for a city built by God. God told him to move... and he was ready to keep moving all his life till he got to the place God wanted him to get to.
This is an indicative point for us as Christians considering that the current-day events are all pointers to an imminent wrap-up of the world and judgment of the inhabitants of the earth. Are we ready to move? Are we packed up, ready to move anytime Jesus returns to take us away? Are we, as is now used in common lingo, "raptureable"?
This is a call to the tent life. Not in the physical sense of moving into an outdoor tent, but in living detached from this world and all its pleasures and trappings. Pursue the activities you desire; engage and exert yourself to earn the pleasures you wish to enjoy in this life (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19), but DO NOT get too attached - don't be so consumed by them that all your life's pursuit is engulfed in them. Keep your eyes always upwards looking for your returning Savior.
Christ issues this warning to us: "Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Luke 21:34-35). Be ready to leave it all - every single thing - so you can be prepared to meet the Master when He returns.
1) Abraham was one of the richest men on earth during his time - he had several cattle and silver and gold (Genesis 13:2)
2) Storey buildings, of the high-rise type, had been invented before Abraham was born. Remember the tower of Babel? It was a massive multi-story building project and it was no sand-castle - the builders had the know-how for creating structural materials like mortar, brick, etc. (Genesis 11:3-4).
So why did Abraham choose to live in tents when he could have built himself a magnificent mansion to put his wife and child and servants in with, his all his riches? Because, as the Bible put it, he LOOKED for a city built by God. God told him to move... and he was ready to keep moving all his life till he got to the place God wanted him to get to.
This is an indicative point for us as Christians considering that the current-day events are all pointers to an imminent wrap-up of the world and judgment of the inhabitants of the earth. Are we ready to move? Are we packed up, ready to move anytime Jesus returns to take us away? Are we, as is now used in common lingo, "raptureable"?
The word 'rapture' connotes a state of being carried away or caught up. Are we 'lightweight' enough to be raptured? Or do we have these attachments and affections to this current world that make it hard for us to leave all and go? Do we say "No, the rapture can come, but not until after I finish my degree/get married/get a job/have a child/make my first millions/etc?" If we do, this is an indication that we may still be too earth-bound.
This is a call to the tent life. Not in the physical sense of moving into an outdoor tent, but in living detached from this world and all its pleasures and trappings. Pursue the activities you desire; engage and exert yourself to earn the pleasures you wish to enjoy in this life (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19), but DO NOT get too attached - don't be so consumed by them that all your life's pursuit is engulfed in them. Keep your eyes always upwards looking for your returning Savior.
Christ issues this warning to us: "Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Luke 21:34-35). Be ready to leave it all - every single thing - so you can be prepared to meet the Master when He returns.
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