Have you ever wanted to experience something only to be disappointed when you finally do? I had the opportunity to experience the “Cadillac Ranch”. I admit that seeing the depictions of it and hearing accounts of others experience generated some excitement when I had the chance to experience it for myself. I was underwhelmed to say the least. I guess I expected more and maybe I am just numb to the artistic genre, but what I saw was ten cars buried half in the ground, spray painted randomly by tourists. There was no awe for me, there was nothing that spoke to me, and frankly that is time that I will never get back in my life.
What about the opposite of the underwhelming event. We went to a college tour with my son and went to the university I went to. I did not know what to expect as I was not impressed 30 years ago when I attended. But when we arrived on campus there were students all over that were engaging and helpful. There was music playing, dancing, and energy that made me think about what I missed when I attended. What a great experience we had and I left thoroughly impressed.
“29Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” – Matthew 24:29-31 (ESV)
Now this is what I call a spectacular event that is going to happen. Imagine looking up and seeing the heavens open and there is Christ riding on a cloud with trumpets sounding and a host of angels and those that went to heaven before us coming with Him as He returns to this world. I am getting chills just thinking about it.
Now, I think back to my expectations and then reality and realize that I may not have prepared properly for the two events I mentioned earlier. Had I done more research, I may have been better prepared for what I was going to see at the Cadillac Ranch and been a bit more receptive of the visit. Maybe if I had called around to some people I knew that more recently attended the university, I would have had a better picture of what campus was like today as opposed to 30 years ago.
With the return of Christ, I have done lots of research and homework. I have read and studied God’s word (although I have only really scratched the surface admittedly), and know what others have seen and the grandeur of those events. I can, with reason, expect that His return will be an even bigger event and much more awe inspiring than those.
God’s Glory is real and I am looking forward to the chance to experience it each day. Even more so, I am ready for His return and being a part of that glory. I KNOW I will not be disappointed or underwhelmed. I will be in awe of His “power and great glory”.
At what events have you been under or overwhelmed? Were you going into those with full accurate knowledge of what to expect? What if you were to dive into God’s Word and build your knowledge of the real glory of Christ?
Trevor's Thoughts 