I went to one of the big chain hardware stores to pick up a couple of sections of gutter, and I hurriedly picked up other needed parts, picking up an outside corner when I needed an inside corner. So, next day I went back to Home Depot and back down the aisle that the gutter was on, to get an inside corner section. Just as I approached that area, some pieces of foam caught my eye and led my thoughts of what I could use that for, as I continued to walk. As I neared the end of the aisle, I was asking myself, “Now where is that guttering? I sure thought it was on this aisle!” I walked down a couple of other aisles and said out loud, “I’m sure that gutter was on that first aisle!” I walked back to that aisle, looking intently for the gutter, and there it was – it was there all the time. I was just distracted and walked right past it.
The Bible tells us just as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation (Hebrews 9: 27, 28). I was “looking” for the gutter the other day, but I got distracted and missed it. The next time around I was looking with a greater determination and found it. That is the difference between casual looking and committed looking. That is like the parable of the ham and eggs breakfast: the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed. Jesus came the first time and mighty things occurred. Jesus rose from the grave and gave us his Word and Spirit by which we can operate in this life. If we are casual believers who are “looking”, we might be involved, but we don’t see the Lord in mighty ways. We are easily distracted and walk right past his working in great power. When we are truly committed and determined to see the Lord as who he really is, he will certainly appear without sin unto salvation, healing, and deliverance. Then, in that final hour of our life, that salvation is still there, operating in grace and mercy to safely carry us over to the other side. That is why we do not want to be caught up with distractions of any kind. We want to know and enjoy his full salvation here and now, spirit, soul, and body, and enjoy his eternal salvation with him in heaven forever. There is a real heaven, and there is a real hell in the realm of the spirit. It is up to us to lay aside the distractions and get our mind on the business of making sure we are prepared to meet him in judgment. Jesus’ sacrifice will carry us through if we turn from sin and ask him into our life.