Can you hear the crying?

“At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.”   Now it is the morning after.  There is loud wailing and crying among the Egyptian people…for there is not a house without someone dead. 

Can you imagine this happening?  Can you hear the cries? Can you feel the pain of those left behind?  The mothers crying…even the mother sheep and the mother cows…crying out for their firstborn babies. 

I cannot help but think about another time when there is going to be wailing and crying here on the earth.  There will be another midnight visit, this time from Jesus himself.  He is going to come back and those that know Him will meet him in the air...both the dead in Christ and the Christians that are alive at that time. In Matthew it tells of this event: “That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matt 24:39-42 

There will be families that are left behind…wondering where their saved loved ones have gone.  When Jesus takes those that are His…I believe there will be tremendous wailing and crying.  First, because their loved ones are gone…then because they realized that Jesus had come and they were not ready. 

The bible tells us that Jesus will come as a thief in the night.  “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”  Matt 24:43-44    

As we reflect on that Passover long ago…let us remember that Jesus will come back and take His children home…will you be ready to go?  Or will you be left behind wailing and crying…