Bumper Sticker Shock

"And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other"- Matthew 24:31 (NIV). 

Have you ever had a valuable coupon that you saved, only to finally pull it out to redeem it, and discover the coupon had expired? You had saved it until you needed it, knowing that it would make a difference, but sadly you had missed the savings you had waited for. Those expiration dates can slip up on you. I saw a bumper sticker, once, that I really liked, even though I don't like bumper stickers as a whole. It said "In case of Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned." The only person who would read that sticker, in the case the Rapture had taken place, would be someone who had been left behind. That bumper sticker should be a sobering message to those who have not believed and accepted Jesus as Lord; who have not accepted the saving grace only He can give. The Rapture's expiration date will have passed by if a person is reading that bumper sticker. For believers and watchers of that glorious expiration date, we sing along with Louis Armstrong: "Oh when the trumpet sounds the call, Oh when the trumpet sounds the call, Oh Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in." Forgiveness is the valuable saving we all need; saving, only if we turn the coupon into the Redeemer who issued it. Coupons retain their value until they are redeemed or until their expiration date. Believers, those who have redeemed their Rapture coupon, can confidently say our Redeemer is coming. Are you ready for the trumpet call or will you be suffering "bumper sticker" shock?