What Will God Say?

At this point, who hasn't heard of the rapture predictions for May 21st? From the Christians who believe it, to the Christians who don't and cringe at what ammunition this will give the mockers of the faith, to the atheist who set up the "pet watching" service (payment due in advance) where he is charging Christians to take care of their pets after the rapture, to the mockers who are planning parties and fun-poking throughout the weekend, everyone has heard of it.

Of course, while much of the Christian community has explained why we can't know the day or hour, and why this is wrong, and how the man behind it was wrong before, and tried to do damage control, etc., I can't help but have a deep, unsettled wondering in my heart. I wonder, what will God say to people like the 60-year-old man from New York who so believed in it that he spent his entire life savings of $140,000 to put up 1,000 ads on subways and bus stops warning people? Keep in mind—he didn't spend it on a wild, self-indulgent party for himself . . . he spent it to warn others.

Realizing that we all have skewed theology in one area or another, I can't help but wonder, "What will God say to him?" on the day he finally does meet God face to face . . . and what will we hear, who don't believe in May 21st specifically, but still do believe that the day will come when every man and woman on earth will meet God face to face and either be ushered in or cast out? I can't hear of stories like his and, behind all the jokes and mocking and panic rushes to "protect" God, wonder deep in my heart, will that man hear, "You believed too much!" . . . or might those, like the rest of us, who have been given much, and given up little, hear something else? What do I really, really believe that I would be willing to give up everything for to warn others. Don't I believe in Heaven? Don't I believe in Hell? Don't I believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father and eternal life with Him? Don't I believe that the end is near, even if it isn't the 21st (and that, even if the Rapture doesn't happen in our lifetime, we'll all be before Him quick enough).

Well, if I really, really believe those things then I can't help but ask myself, and wonder, as I read articles about people like that man, "What will God say to the one who believed and gave up everything to warn others" . . . and what will He say to people like me who also believe, and just don't think I know the date, and have given up so little to warn others. It is just a thought I have, a question I wrestle with. I wonder, will God ever say to someone, "You believed too much!"