“HOW’S IT GOIN’?”, said the gregarious man one ordinary day in his most flat and meaningless tone, as the Spirit was passing by. Startled when the Spirit actually stopped and approached him face-to-face, the man became instantly flushed, a bit ‘put out’ as the Spirit began his response. I’m too busy for this, thought the man. The man was, as most of us are who use such greetings, way too disinterested, much too distracted by the real matters of life to spend time listening to the Spirit’s opinion. He had neither expected nor wanted a reply. Just move along – and I’ll see you later.

“How rude, how presumptuous, how invasive?”, thought the preoccupied man. But still, the gentle Spirit persisted, tarried with the man and began to engage him in spite of the cold mindless greeting – ‘How’s it goin’.

“How’s it goin’? Glad you asked. Let me tell ya.

“Some things you can see and answer for yourself. You don’t need me to tell you about them. They’re so obvious a bat could see them. You surely can see that the earth is in turmoil, trouble is brewing everywhere, even for the Eskimos and the Australian Bushmen. The seas overflow and earthquakes shake up the ground you walk on with increasing frequency. Natural disasters; storms, tornadoes, wind, snows and droughts pummel every continent. Famine and plagues are taking their toll as we speak. Disease and virus continue to penetrate man’s supposed impenetrable medical defenses. Flu from unclean sources ooze into the safest sterile protected, technologically advanced, places. And you know about the wars and civil wars how they continue on and on. How many millions have died in Africa? Crazy men have access to nuclear weapons, their madness looms over the peace of the earth like poison waiting to rain from the sky. It’s terrible, with no relief in sight.

“But all these things are in my hand, man; to humble you and the rest of the earth, to get people to look for deliverance from God. I created the earth. I will surely shake it to make known what is shakable and what cannot be is shaken. I am the blacksmith. The earth is my anvil, her moods are my hammer, forging by fire and force the spirit of man, showing the spiritual mettle of which each soul is made. I’ll tell you now, how it’s all going to shake out.”

With boldness The Spirit proceeded.

I told people thousands of years ago about my original best friend Abraham. “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Be my friend.

“Who’s asking to be my friend?”

“You asked, ‘How’s it goin’, friendly like? But the real question shouldn’t be How’s it goin’; the real question is: What’s comin’? Everyone should honestly be asking, “What’s coming?”

But He did not stop there.

“I am preparing hearts by a spiritual sort of ‘research and development’ so men can be ready for the appearance of Jesus in the clouds. This appearing is so improbable to Man’s way of thinking, so removed from regular faith that the earth is in birth pains just to get people’s attention about the approaching great event of this age. It’s not World Wars, pestilence or natural disasters. It’s the return of Christ, he’s the one you have heard of; the one who died on the cross for you and was raised from the dead and promised to return to establish just government, restore order, and impose righteousness on the earth. He’s the one who ascended up into heaven to be with the Father, but before leaving promised to return. He’s what’s comin’. How’s it goin’? Everything is goin’ in that direction, that is exactly how it’s goin’. The earth is my anvil, the disasters my hammer, together they are pounding away to forge out a people fit to be in my presence and waiting for the return of Jesus. They are the friends of God and have shown they are his friends by being friendly and believing and communing with him. And because they have been friendly first, true friends, they will be married to him. And that work is going on right now. Thank you for asking. My work is right on schedule. Everything the Father wants for His Son will be accomplished. Take some time to read about this plan, from beginning to end, in the book – you know the book you have heard of – you know – the Bible.”

How Can You Be Friends With Someone You Don’t Know?
The gentle Spirit’s expression changed to one even more stern and grave.

“But some other things aren’t goin’ so good. You, for instance, you aren’t ready for what’s comin’, are you?”, he said and looked directly to the man’s stony face.

The man looked at him with a forced quizzical look, shrugged, and with no little misgiving asked,. “What do you mean? I didn’t know I had to be ready for Jesus’ return.”

“What I mean would be clear if you took the time to read the Bible and honestly study it.” said the Spirit, with a tinge of indignation.

“You haven’t made yourself ready to meet Jesus. Because you haven’t gotten to know Jesus, you’re in line to suffer the other thing that is comin’ – judgment. The world will be judged by fire from heaven and the all consuming eyes of Truth. People will not be able to eat, buy, or sell if they do not worship Satan and his ‘Evil One’. War, pestilence, famine and death will ride through the earth like a posse from Hell. They will consume and slaughter those who were unprepared for what was comin’. Death will drag the unbelieving and unfaithful to eternal Hell fires. Blood will be man’s drinking water. People will cry out to die but won’t be able to. The world will be tormented by its own sin and by unleashed forces and demons from the pits of Hell. Look at the Book of Revelation instead of naked pictures on the internet and the foolish apocalyptic movies that come swarming out of the wild phantasmagorias of Hollywood.

“The day is comin’ when men will ask one another, `How’s it goin’? And they will respond with blasphemy and complaint. Out of pain and suffering they will hate and deride God. They will curse and blaspheme God and His Son, and their hatred and bitterness will grow into rage against God.

They will never find peace or joy. No place will be found for them in Paradise because they will be full of hate for God and his people. They will be cast out into outer darkness where the fire is never quenched and the worm never dies, where there is perpetual weeping and everlasting gnashing teeth. Where they will be alone forever with no comfort and not the slightest relief,  not so much as a drop of water for their eternally parched tongue  They will not ask How’s it goin’, will never again give a generic reflex greeting that so blithely rolls off  the lips of men this day. No one will dare ask, How’s it goin’?, because the answer they get will only increase their pain.  

“As this judgment builds to its conclusion, I will gradually withdraw because I am not one to strive and argue with people. I won’t always pass by the corner, or your seat in the church in which you merely are content to take up space; or stop to talk with you as I am doing now. It will be too late then. No, I won’t acknowledge your casual greeting `How’s it goin’!

As For The Sincere?
“But those who ask sincerely, “How’s it goin’”, who heed my counsel, take serious my warnings, and want the Son to be their light, in charge of their personal “comin’s and goin’s”, I promise a glorious future in eternity. And they will be excited about how things are goin’, things will be goin’ very well for them and their prospects will be golden, because I will have judged righteousness among mankind, the angels of Jesus will have separated the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the chaff, I will have deleted the virus from the hard-drive. And everything will be fine. Obviously, the redeemed will not have to ask, `How’s it goin”? They won’t have to listen for me to tell them `How’s it goin”, because we will be one and they will be privy to `How it’s goin’ all the time.

The Man stood wide-eyed, gaping, looking to see if anyone was watching, if anyone he knew overheard the conversation, or saw him talking to this strange stranger. He felt a bit uneasy, shaken and troubled. Part of him wished he had never asked the Spirit, How’s it goin’. None of this would do his reputation much good if he was seen associating with such radical talk. Foolish and crazy would be the cry from friends and neighbors and fellow church goers. But he knew he should listen. He could pretend, however, that he didn’t understand. He looked at the Spirit and knew the Spirit knew even his thoughts. He saw the Spirit and understood that the Spirit knew the conversation was over. The Man was finished listening.

 As He turned and began walking away the Spirit called back over His shoulder with these final words; “That’s how it’s goin’! How’s it goin’ with you!?”