Olga the 2000-pound walrus at Brookfield Zoo was 26 years old. She had lived in the same pool (her home at the zoo) for most of that time. After all those years the cement in Olga’s pool was crumbling from all the salt in the water. (Walruses live in salt water. Those not in zoos live in the Arctic Ocean.)
So a new home had to be built for her. What a big job it was to build a home large enough and then to move all 2000 pounds of her to her new home!
The moving date was set for October 2, 1987. Olga’s new home was only about one-quarter mile away. She would have about nine times more space than she had had in her old home. For 14 months the zookeepers had been getting her ready for the move. It took that long for Olga to get used to the 15-by-8-foot transport container in which she was to be moved... and when the day came it took an 80-ton crane to lift her and a truck to move her!
When Olga arrived at her new pool, the zookeepers used fresh fish to coax her out of the transport container. And because she loves to eat, it wasn’t long until she was in the water eating the fish. It was confusing for her at first as she inspected her new home. The zookeeper even had to command her to “stay” as she seemed to want to get back out of her new pool. But soon she was happy to be back in the water, and it wasn’t long before she was up to her old tricks of whistling, waving and blowing kisses to the visitors watching her.
Those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our own Saviour have our “moving date” coming up real soon. The Lord Jesus is coming to take us to our new home in heaven. All is ready for us. “I go to prepare a place for you.... I will come again, and receive you unto unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2,32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3). He hasn’t told us the exact date; it will be a surprise. But our “moving date” is set and He has given us a promise about it — “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37). So we know there is just a little while left. That could be a few more months, a few more weeks, a few more days, or maybe only a few more minutes!
Are you going with us?
Then the Lord Jesus tells us something about the actual “move.” “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain [that’s us] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16,1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17). So He is going to call us up to meet Him in the air, and then He will take us the rest of the way to heaven with Him. I can hardly wait!
But how about you?
Then in 1 Corinthians chapters 15, where He tells us more about it, He says in verse 52 how quickly it is all going to happen — “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye"! You need to be ready to go right now, because there won’t be time to get ready then — we’ll be gone!
Are you ready to go?
If you are still in your sins, you aren’t ready; you’ll be left behind for God’s judgment! You need to believe that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for your own sins, and He will forgive you. That’s all it takes to be ready to go. Don’t wait any longer. Hurry! Today could be “moving day"!
Jesus may come in the morning,
Jesus may come at noon,
Jesus may come in the evening,
For He is coming soon.
ML-05/01/1988