It was on one of these secular boards that I met Ruth. Known on those boards as 'Rutheena', she was a sister in the Lord also attempting to reach those who would not believe. Something told me to return to that board this morning after being gone for quite awhile. I want to share the Lord's message with what I posted as a new topic on that board after learning that Ruth had gone home:

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I haven't been here since leaving many months ago, but something this morning told me to return. In a way I wish I hadn't, for sadness and grief has found its' way before me. I'm so sorry to hear of Ruth's untimely death at age 42, but after the initial shock, I rejoice in knowing she is in Heaven!

I seldom post on 'secular' message boards, and upon being invited here sometime ago, I was met with the usual 'take your Jesus somewhere else', and 'we don't want to hear that' rhetoric...except from a handful. Ruth was one of the few that greeted me with warmth and understanding. She knew about the salvation that Jesus offered, and more than once defended my attempts to post it. In one topic on this board, she said:

"I have read Revelations several times and it will get a whole lot worse, before it gets any better. I just wonder what all these people will do when the rapture happens...what will these people do when amargeddon happens.... what will these people do when they finally realize that we aren't just blowing smoke....?????? I know where I'll be....do you?"

I know where you are, too, Ruth:

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Ruth met Jesus face to face the instant her spirit left her body. We never know when each of our lives will come to an end. It may be due to a long-suffering illness, or in Ruth's case, a quick, sudden and unexpected occurrence:

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

Ruth knew that, and at some point in her life made the decision to receive the salvation that Jesus offered. I could tell from her posts that she loved life, loved her family, and especially loved the Lord. That's why I know where she is, and she knew where she was going. She is with Him now, and would not want to return to this life even if she had the opportunity. It's too beautiful where she is; it's too peaceful where she is; we cannot imagine where she is:

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

I know there are many here that still don't want to hear about the Jesus that Ruth knows and loves as Lord and Savior. I know there are many here that still don't want to know about the saving grace of which Ruth is now partaking. But know this: If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, as Ruth did, you are condemned. And you can't blame God, for He has allowed you to make your own decision:

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)

We are all going to meet Jesus one day. So do you want to meet Him as Judge, or as Savior?

Ruth's spirit is coming back with Him, to be reunited with her body at the Rapture, and we will see her again:

"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:" (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

I'll miss you Ruth, but I'll see you before long. I never had the opportunity to meet you face to face in this life, but I shall certainly meet you in the next. We see the signs of the Tribulation approaching quickly, which tells us the Rapture is near. But consider, in Ruth's case, death was even closer. With that in mind, Ruth has the final say:

"I know where I'll be....do you?"

Keith

01-06-2004