My mother was a Christian and a devout Seventh-day Adventist. She had no trouble speaking about her faith. As a matter of fact, she spoke in a very practical way about her hope in Christ’s return. I heard her express this hope many times. She would ask a very simple question: “Has anyone seen a little black cloud in the heavens about the size of a man’s hand?” Just prior to her death in 2000, I heard her ask the question again for the last time. She died anticipating Jesus’ return.
The thought of the eternal God invading time and space in order to offer humans an eternal friendship with Him is mind-boggling. Why should He go through all the trouble to take us to heaven when He could easily just
‘make’ perfect children and fellowship with them for eternity?
The answer is actually quite simple. It is summed up in the words of Scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Praise God. His love overcomes all obstacles and all barriers to eternal friendship, and makes eternal friendship possible! Amazing!
One day soon our Lord will come for you and for me? Will we respond to His loving invitation to live with Him for eternity? My mother loved this description by Ellen G. White: “Our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire; a rainbow was over the cloud, while around it were ten thousand angels, singing a most lovely song; and upon it sat the Son of man. His hair was white and curly and lay on His shoulders; and upon His head were many crowns.”
Jesus is coming! I expect to meet my mother soon. By the way, “Has anyone seen a little black cloud in the heavens about the size of a man’s hand?”
The author is the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for North America.
