One hundred and fourteen dollars, that's how much Elizabeth spent on groceries at Publix today. Worse part is I will probably spend thirty or forty bucks more mid-week to get fresh produce, bread or beverages. A family of three with two dogs, a cat and a few dozen wild birds that peck at our bird feeder, we collectively spend a couple hundred dollars on food every week, roughly a thousand dollars a month...

Living well beyond our needs, we are caught in the vicious wheel that is the American economy. Just like most Americans who work secular jobs full time so that they can afford their lifestyle, Elizabeth and I have bills to pay and at the end of each month, we have to meet minimum income requirements. Failure to do so would increase debt which for most include a mortgage, automobile financing, credit card balances or student loans.

How have we let ourselves get caught in such a never ending consumer loop? Obviously most of us will never get out of debt and surely die owing someone something! I searched the bible and found many verses which clearly command us to not owe anything to anyone. "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Love, for the Day is Near. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:6-8)

I do not understand why those who call themselves Christians, including my wife and I often surround ourselves with things of this earth, with tremendous luxury yet preach from a book which calls us to do the opposite. Our church's senior pastor owns a fishing boat, a dirt bikes for his kids. Another church leader owns a small plane. A nursery volunteer wears a gold bracelet with twenty 18 carat charms around it, enough gold to feed 100 poverty stricken children for an entire year. Elizabeth and I own two cars, two televisions, four computers, five digital cameras, three DVD players, a couple VCR's... Our two year old daughter Grace already has two grand in her college fund. Though humble, we are financially blessed.

Or are we?

With more than half the world's population living on less than two dollars a day, even the poor in America are among the wealthiest people on earth. What does the bible say about the rich? "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:23-24)

Again in Mark's gospel, Jesus said to his disciples "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:23-25)

Then, the apostle Luke repeats "Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:24-26)

It's no coincidence this metaphor appears three times in the bible. It's a clue, a command. In each gospel, the metaphor is followed by a solution. "When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:25-29)

Are you ready to pay what you owe, to sell all that you own and follow Jesus Christ serving Him with all He's given you and all He's given for you? Are you ready to devote your life to God almighty who gave up His human life for you to have eternal life? Are you ready for His return?

That's really the question I wanted to get to. Many of us are waiting for a sign, for a revelation of some sort. Many among us are willing to give everything up and follow in Jesus' footsteps, just not yet. It is my belief these people which unfortunately include my wife and I may be given the chance to obey biblical commands upon the rapture.

Left behind to prove their devotion to Christ, many of God's lukewarm children may be called upon to endure through the great tribulation. Since no one knows when Jesus will return or when the tribulation will begin, we are all at God's mercy.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. 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. 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." (Matthew 24:36-44)

What you do is up to you. How you choose to spend your days, the work you do to pay your bills is your business. But remember, judgment and eternal life is up to God. When God renders His final judgment upon you, you will want to have something to show for your time spent on earth.

Are you among the rich of this world? If so, how did you acquire your earthly wealth? More importantly, have you treasures stored in heaven? Are you ready for His return? For your sake I hope so... Let's pray!