Perhaps you have heard the group DC Talk sing the remake of Larry Norman’s’ song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”? There is something tragically deceptive about the lyrics though. As we sing along, we find ourselves participating in a couple instances where we wish we had been ready to be taken instead of left behind. But that is not how Jesus tells his side of the story. The words are inspired by Matthew 24:40-41. But let’s look more closely, shall we?
MATTHEW 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Noah was left behind. To me, that was a good thing. It was those taken away in the flood who didn’t make out so good. Another time in the life of Israel makes this point clear. When Babylon came and defeated Jerusalem, there were some who were taken away and some who were left behind. Those taken went into exile far away into a hellish country. Those left behind stayed in the city and awaited the second coming. And now you have those words of the song, “Two men walking up a hill, one disappears, and one’s left standing still. I wish we’d all been ready.” I wish they’d all been a part of the band on the ark and left behind rather than taken away. The deception is when the song tries to connect what Jesus said with an interpretation of what Paul said to the Thessalonians by using the phrase, “one disappears.” No one disappears when the Lord returns. On the contrary, many do re-appear.
Paul encourages those Thessalonian believers telling them, “The dead in Christ will rise first!” But when? When Jesus comes back…to the earth–more specifically, to the King’s city. The watchmen sees the coming of the King, blows the trumpet, and gives a shout to announce his coming. The protocol for the King’s people--they knew exactly what to do–rouse themselves together and run to meet and greet the King on the road, then to go with Him into His city.
And just like that, all of Christ’s faithful–dead and alive will join Him when He comes to enter the New Jerusalem where He is king, He is the light, where heaven and earth finally meet and that place He left to go and prepare for you and me, He makes good on that promise!