We ate lunch at the little diner across from the ferryboat pier. The big Great Lakes boats were swallowing about twenty cars per trip, plus a few bike riders and hikers. Cars and SUV's were lined up about a quarter of a mile waiting their turn to cross.
It was fun to watch all the activity from our table near the big picture window. Some people were trying to catch a quick meal before the next boat arrived. From our vantage point we pieced together some of the dialog unfolding on the sidewalk outside. Young couples and families were debating their options. Go inside and chance it? Or stay near the pier and be ready to go?
Our waitress caught on to what we were doing and shook her head with a friendly laugh.
"You wouldn't believe how some people act when they're caught inside and the boat is loading."
And how was that, we asked?
"Well, some people just run out of here without eating and say they changed their mind. Some ask us to package it up, to go."
"But, the loading doesn't really go that fast," I reasoned, "surely they can judge the boats arrival time and know whether there's time to eat or not."
"That's just it," she gently instructed me, "they don't know. How many people have timed a ferryboat for sure? And the other cars will drive right past their car on the dock and leave them for the next round. Don't think they won't."
People scurrying about to make sure they could board a boat to an island they would return from in a few hours. Jogging back to their cars, running to the ticket window. It seemed comical to us, in part because we could so easily gage the movement of the ferryboat and the number of cars to be unloaded, then loaded.
The end was clear and definable. But the people on the dock couldn't see the whole picture.
The Bible tells us that there will be a clear and definable end of time.
God has the only vantage point from which to judge exactly when this will actually occur.
But there's no need to scurry about.. Jesus taught that anyone believing on His name as God's Son would depart with him and arrive in heaven. You get the ticket, AND...you can continue with your everyday activities, even coffee at the diner, until He's ready.
But like that world weary waitress, I've a feeling that God see's many people trying to cut it too close on the dock.
"I'm not quite ready to decide on Jesus yet. Maybe one more meal, one more belief system, one more peek at the ferryboat to be sure."
The time will come. Two will be on the pier, and one in the restaurant. Where will we be?
Matthew 24:39-44 (NIV)
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. [42] "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. [43] 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. [44] So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
What do you believe?
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