What did the giant angel swear?

"That there should be time no longer."

Probably "that there should be delay no longer."

To the average American Christian who is hoping for a "rapture" to deliver him or her from trouble, the thought of there being no more delay may not seem to warrant this terrible oath. Whether or not there is a God or Christ is important, but right now the American economy is booming. Let's enjoy it while we can.

But to the cross-carrying disciple who has learned to survive by leaning on the Lord every moment of every day the promise there will be delay no longer is a breath of hope, a rope to cling to, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Some day it will be over. Some day we will be privileged to lay our cross at Jesus' feet. Will we be able to cope with such change emotionally? The young man Joseph seemed to have no trouble moving in one day from prison to the throne of Egypt.

Paul says that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed in us. There must be six months of the bitter and six months of the sweet if we are to be prepared to enter the Presence of the King of Glory.

No doubt the thousand-year Kingdom Age will be six months of the sweet for those who are being made competent to inherit all things of the new world of righteousness.

Only those who have thirsted on the cross of denial will be able to fully appreciate the end of the race. For them to live is Christ and to die is gain. The casual believers have hedged their bets. If Christ wins, wonderful. They are prepared (they think). If Christ loses, well there always are alternatives.

To the victorious saints there are no alternatives. It is Jesus on the nose to win. Brother Fullerton used to say, "If the Bible is not the Word of God I am done for."

Jesus Christ is the only game in town. If you go through life and miss the plan of Christ for you, you have missed everything of lasting value.

There shall be delay no longer! Thank God. Well deserving of the fearful oath. A few more weary steps, a few more laughs, a few more tears, a few more opportunities to turn people to the way of Christ, and then to awake to a new morning. Some opportunity to rest on the greenest, softest of all grass among flowers of every hue. Many familiar faces, memories of long ago. Sights, sounds, smells return from the past.

Sufficient rest and then an angel brings us toward the lightùa brilliance the eyes of flesh could never bear. So many angels! Some standing around. Some going about their business. People in groups outside the wall. Now we are inside walking toward the Palace.

He is coming out to greet us. HeùJesusùwarm, friendly, but obviously Lord of all. Our Master, our best Friend, the faithful One who has been to us precisely what He had promised.

The travail is over. New life has been born. We are new, Jesus is new, our environment is new, everything is new. God has made all things new.

We can see the neighborhood where we were raised and it is new.

We have entered eternity. The struggle in the dark womb of the earth is over. Life has begun. Now we have endless ages in which to contemplate our behavior on the earth.

Friend, don't blow it. This world is a Mission Impossible contrived to test your integrity. Stand true. You have forever to enjoy the things you were required to lay aside in order to do the will of God. The one important thing is your character, in particular your faith in God.

Jacob, what kind of person are you really? Will your name ever change to Israel?

Some day the angel will swear there shall be delay no longer. What will your score be?