Today is June 13, 2023. The time is 8:26 a.m. (my clock is 6 minutes fast). I am shaking. Only one pain pill and one cup of coffee (extra creamy, sweet and strong, please) into the day, so it has to be what I just read.

Please indulge me. Something of great significance has just set my pulse racing, taking my breath away. I am reading my Bible, specifically Revelation Chapter 5. This isn’t just the ordinary way some and even I have read God’s word top to bottom, cover to worn-out cover, over and over and over and over.

Like that blind dude in the New Testament, the scales have fallen off my eyes. I can see, while only in a very limited human Pegi-type of way, I see.

Cornerstone Community Church in Seymour is doing a new thing to our church body. We are reading God’s word corporately, same chapters, same day, even going so far as to dig in and send crazy texts to each other about our reason for living is to please God and how Jesus is worthy of it all, and …

“Did you just read that, Michelle?”

“What does that mean, Ruby?”

“You don’t say, really, Melody, Tina, Diane, Jess?”

This has been going on since January, and my understanding is we are to continue along the same path together until December 2024. Unless Jesus comes back first. I am not a prophet shouting from a soapbox about impending hail of fire and ghosts coming up the sewer vents, but I do seek to convey the facts, Ma’am, just the facts.

Like many other Christians, I read the Bible asking the holy spirit to help me understand, remember and apply what I am reading, so forth and so on. And he does. Always.

However, like many Christians, I don’t keep up my end of the deal. I’m sometimes apathetically pathetic. I have a tendency to be too tired or rather too lazy. I’m always in a hurry and busy for busy’s sake. Often, my thoughts are, “Jesus probably won’t be back today. I’ve got other things to do,” and while I intend to do what he wants, my rule of thumb is “I do it my way.” Yes, I’m imitating Frank Sinatra, not my savior, Jesus.

This year has been way over the top different in intent and followthrough concerning said reading of God’s word, my sword, the Bible. Having been a Christian for about 40 years, one would think I’d have had my act together a little better by now. Being older, sicker, not raising children, not working, not paying a mortgage and other necessary life stuff that generally is done by now has helped. Please don’t make those same assumptions. Quoting 1 John here, “Little children,” listen up.

These are not the last days. This is the last hour of the last hours. Don’t believe me? Read your Bible. Don’t have a Bible? Get one or ask any good Christian who probably has a dusty dozen to choose from, blow it off and open it up. Do not delay.

We simply must stop making up the rules as we go along in life doing what we feel is right, what we think is right and sailing in the “whatever floats your boat” cruise straight to hell. By rules I am suggesting, whether you are female, male, a reincarnated mouse or hoping to be saved by that tree you’re hugging so tightly.

If this sounds a little harsh, have you actually read and thought about what your Bible is saying lately? God. Creator of all. Unable to deceive. Never early. Never late. Omni-everything is not making this stuff up. Jesus is coming back to get us, us as in the bride of Christ with a full lamp, as in Jesus, lover of my soul bridegroom. He. Is. Coming. Back.

He’s coming like a thief in the night. He’s coming suddenly. He’s coming, and he is coming to take me away. Is he coming to get you, too? If you aren’t sure, you best be agettin’ your act together. Just open that book up anywhere and you will find God’s plan of redemption through the lamb, the only one worthy to break those seven seals on the title to earth and every other thing.

God loves you enough that he sent his only begotten son to be your resurrected living redeemer, the only spotless human sacrifice able to get us into our creator God’s presence for eternity. You know, no more brain lesions, pain pills, death or medical bills. I am looking forward to walking in the cool of the evening with my Jesus who shines in heaven so bright there is no need for the sun because he is the son. I only want to see you there, and so does he.

Pegi Bricker is a Seymour resident who has lived with multiple sclerosis for 20 years. Send comments to [email protected].