Western Adventure (Part 1)

Bible Reading: Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Allie, Mara, and Collin fastened their seat belts on the plane. They were on their way to visit their grandparents in South Dakota. Allie was glad she had a window seat. She

didn’t want to miss a thing on what they called their

Western Adventure.

The kids squealed as the plane roared down the runway. When they were airborne, they looked down and saw the rivers and highways winding through the countryside like ribbons.

“Oh, look at the clouds!” said Mara. “They look so fluffy and soft.”

Allie giggled. “We can pretend we’re fairy princesses floating around the sky on a cloud.”

“That’s silly!” said Collin. “You can’t float on clouds—they wouldn’t hold you up at all. If you got on one, you’d fall right through it.” As he spoke, the plane flew into a cloud. “See?” he said. “We’re going through one now.”

“It would be cool to reach out and touch one,” said Mara.

“You can when it’s foggy,” Collin told her. “We learned in science that fog is a cloud in contact with the ground, so touching one is no big deal.”

“Well, floating on one would be,” said Allie. She tossed her head. “And I can pretend if I want to!” she added when she saw that Collin was about to argue. “Besides, I know somebody who went up in the clouds.”

“You do not,” said Collin.

“Yes, I do!” Allie insisted. “And so do you! In church not long ago, Pastor Ervin read about how Jesus went back to heaven on a cloud. Well, sort of—the Bible says the disciples saw a cloud take Him out of their sight, remember? And He’s coming back the same way someday—Pastor Ervin read the verses that talk about that too.”

“I remember,” said Collin. “When Jesus comes back, Christians who have died will rise from the grave first.”

Mara smiled. “Yeah, and then those who are still alive will rise too! It says we’ll be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we’ll live with Him forever.”

Allie grinned at her brother. “And that,” she said, “will be even better than floating around on a cloud.”

-Jan L. Hansen

How About You?

Will you be among those who meet Jesus in the clouds when He returns? There’s only one way to make sure you’re ready for that day—trust Jesus as your Savior and receive His gift of salvation. Then you can look forward to the day when He returns and you will live with Him forever!

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 We…will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
(NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Be ready to meet the Lord