Luke 2:46  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  Years ago, while pastoring my first church, I knew a family that left a child behind.  They did some shopping at Walmart.  Pretty sure they had six children.  They got home and discovered they were minus one of their children.  They called the store to find out that their child was being held at the service desk awaiting rescue!  Can you imagine Joseph and Mary’s dismay when they found out Jesus had been left behind?
There was a movie years ago depicting the return of Jesus for His church.  We call this event the rapture.  The title of the movie series was “Left Behind”  In the case of Jesus, as well as the family mentioned,
it was a situation that was alarming and yet very quickly rectified.   Jesus is coming.  The situation for those who are left behind will be very unsettling.   There will be a great tribulation coming on the earth.  The situation will be so bad that men will want to die and not be able to die.  When Jesus comes for His people, there will be absolutely no one accidentally left behind.  The believers will depart because they have trusted Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin.  The unbeliever will be left behind simply because they failed to believe the Gospel and receive the Lord Jesus.  If Jesus were to return RIGHT NOW, would you be leaving with Him, or staying for the mess that’s about to be unleashed in the tribulation?  I beg you, don’t be left behind.  Let’s go together to meet Jesus and all the Saints of God who have gone before us.  Amen.  Pastor