I recently returned from a family vacation at Panama City Beach, Florida. We had a fun time on the beach and in the water. We found some wonderful places to eat. Of course, we made the time to seek out a good church to worship with on Sunday. It was a great time to relax and have fun.

The weather was good for the most part. There was one day when storms were looming in the area, and we decided not to go down to the beach. I was sitting by myself on the balcony of our condo on the 13^th floor, listening to the rumbling thunder in the distance, not at all concerned about any threatening weather.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning occurred right in front of me! It was accompanied by a simultaneous clap of the loudest thunder I have ever heard! I immediately rushed inside, much to the enjoyment of my family, who were quite amused at the quickness of my movements and the event that caused me to decide to join them.

Jesus compares his Second Coming to be like a flash of lightning. Luke 17:24 says, “For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.”

When Jesus returns, it will happen very quickly, just like a flash of lightning. There will be no time to change your circumstances. No time to profess faith in Jesus. No time to repent. No time to be baptized. No time to be added to the church. The time for decisions will have passed. Your station in eternity will be settled once and for all.

Therefore, the time for decisions is now. Jesus constantly warns in his teachings that we must be ready for his return. Please take his exhortations seriously, for yourself and for those you are trying to reach with the gospel message.

As the apostle Paul says in 2 Cor.6:2, “…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”