This Could Be the Year 或在今年

[Dexu Xia]

We who are still alive and are left will . . . meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

      My dad was a pastor, and on the first Sunday of each new year he preached about the return of Christ, often quoting from 1 Thessalonians 4. His point was always the same: “This could be the year that Jesus will return. Are you ready to meet Him?” I’ll never forget hearing that sermon at age 6, thinking, If that’s true, I’m not sure I will be among those He’s coming for.

      I felt certain that my parents would be going to heaven, and I wanted to go too. So, when my dad came home after church, I asked how I could be sure. He opened the Bible, read some verses to me, and talked to me about my need for a Savior. It didn’t take much to convince me of my sins. That day, my dad led me to Christ. I will be forever grateful to him for planting these truths in my heart.

      In an increasingly chaotic world, what a hopeful thought that this could be the year Jesus returns. More comforting still is the anticipation that all who trust Him for salvation will be gathered together, relieved from this world’s suffering, sorrow, and fear. Best of all, we’ll be with the Lord forever!

      Lord, keep me always mindful of Your inevitable return. Thanks for the assurance that this world is not all we have but that a blessed eternity awaits all who trust in You.

Perhaps today! Dr. M. R. De Haan

或在今年

以后我们这活着还存留的人必……在空中与主相遇。这样，我们就要和主永远同在。-帖撒罗尼迦前书4章17节

    家父是位牧师，每年的第一个主日，他讲道的主题都是关于基督的再来，通常他都会引用帖撒罗尼迦前书4章的经文。他的重点每年都一样：「今年可能就是耶稣再来的时候，你们已经准备好了吗？」我永远不会忘记在6岁那年，听他讲这篇道的时候，我心里不由自主地想着：如果祂今年真的来了，我能够像其他人一样被祂接到天堂吗？

    我相信爸妈一定能去天堂，而我也想和他们一样。因此，等父亲从教会回家之后，我便问他怎么能够确定自己可以进天堂。他翻开圣经，读了些经节给我听，提到我需要一位救主，并且让我清楚地看见自己的罪。那天，我父亲领我决志相信基督，接受祂成为我的救主，这让我永远感激父亲将这些真理栽种在我心深处。

    生活在这个日益混乱的世界中，想到耶稣可能今年就会再来，多么令人充满盼望。更让我们感到欣慰的，是所有因信靠祂而得救赎的人，将被召聚在一起，脱离世上一切的苦难、悲伤和惧怕。而最美好的事，莫过于我们将永远与主同住！

主啊！让我时时谨记祢必要再来。
    谢谢祢让我们明白，我们并不是只有今生，因为所有信靠祢的人，必将得着蒙福的永生。也许就是今天！–马汀·狄汉医生01012016