Making a Return Trip

I can’t begin to tell you how many return trips I make to Walmart AFTER I just made it home with a load of groceries. Such was the case on Wednesday. No sooner than I returned home, one of my smoke alarms began to chirp. I had batteries on hand, but no matter which one I installed, within minutes, it began to chirp again. So, I made a return trip to Walmart for new ones. Aw! Peace and quiet, but, alas, if another one doesn’t start chirping in the middle of the night. I put earplugs in so my sweet and short sleep could go on. Now, I’m up and at ‘em and after I post my blog, I’ll be up and down the ladder again with one of the extra batteries I bought. There was another “return trip” I made recently. When I was with my children in Austin and on my way back home to Frisco, I drove about ten miles away when I received a phone call from Shawntel: “Mom, you left your computer!” OMG! I quickly turned around to retrieve one of my most precious possessions because it holds my life in it. No matter how far I would have driven, I would have RETURNED for that computer. As I continued my Bible reading plan yesterday, I read about the time (Luke 2:41-51) when Jesus was 12-years old and as every year, He and His parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. After the festival was over, while RETURNING home, unbeknownst to His parents, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents thought He was with relatives in the caravan, but after a day they started looking for Him and not finding Him, they RETURNED to Jerusalem. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at his understanding and His answers. Mary and Joseph’s precious possession had been found. Their RETURN trip was worth the effort. But, I can imagine He got some good "talking to's" along the way of that RETURN trip. And, speaking of RETURN trips. Jesus left His throne in heaven, came to earth to live among us, be one of us, show us the way, die a criminal’s death and be buried. But, hold on! He RETURNED to life. A comeback story like none ever told. Go ahead and believe in another god, but I assure you, yours is dead. Ours isn’t! He rose up right out of that grave! He showed Himself off that He was alive to many people and then He RETURNED to heaven to reign on High. Oh, but that’s not the end of the story. It is just the beginning for you and me. No matter the details, there is so much more to the Jesus Who was born in Bethlehem, beyond what eyes could see. He is the Jesus of the manger, but He is also our soon-coming, soon RETURNING, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His love for those of us who believe in Him cannot be exaggerated. He will RETURN – sooner or later. And, when He RETURNS, when His feet stand on the Mount of Olives, I want to be there, as His devoted follower, as one of “His sheep". This can only happen through personal faith in Him. Above all things – getting ready for eternity should be our first priority! That is a RETURN trip that is worth the wait and worth the living with no regrets. Take my hand. Let’s go together!