Stay On the Tracks

 My hometown of State Center has a train track running parallel to Main Street. Crossing the tracks and waiting for a train to pass was just part of life. When the train rattled through town, voices were diminished so teachers paused their teaching, business waited, cars lined up on the streets, and conversations suspended. The noisy interlude was common and expected.

For five years we lived in State Center just a few blocks from the train tracks. We worried about being able to sleep but the train just became background music. When we moved to the country acreage we were parallel to train tracks but a few miles away. We could see the train from our house on the hill but did not hear it. 

We spent many minutes watching the train cars pass as we waited to cross the tracks. We counted the cars and watched for the caboose until the red cars were eliminated. I watched in wonder and in awe of the artistic graffiti on the sides of the cars. We once took an 8-hour ride through Alaska's beautiful wilderness. I think it would be wonderful to take a train ride through the United States.

Jesus didn't travel by train. He walked great distances throughout Israel and Judah. His journeys were by foot not rail. I've always been amazed by all that was accomplished during Jesus' time on earth.Perhaps Jesus' most important teaching for believers was about the end times. During His return, the nations of the earth and unbelievers will mourn because they realize they are on the wrong side of the "tracks".

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other," (Matthew 24:30-31 NIV).

Thank You, God, for sending Your Son to teach us how to believe. Help us strengthen our faith with Your Word and give us opportunities to share the Good News with others. We pray in Jesus' Holy and Gracious Name. Amen.