Some police events are more memorable than others, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. Swat calls don’t always work like they do on TV. Some even make us wonder how we survived. This was that call.

We were sent to search a guy’s house for drugs. He was well-armed, so we tried to arrive by stealth. That didn’t work. Our cover was blown before we left the staging point. Everyone in the area knew we were there. It was so bad, neighbor kids followed us on four-wheelers to the suspect’s house.

Then our communications were cut off by the armored vehicle. The driver forgot to turn off the voice activation on his radio. The engine noise caused his radio to transmit, shutting down everyone else’s comms. This can’t get any worse, I thought. But the Swat Fairy said, “Hold my beer!”

Keeping with the spirit of the day, the entry team forgot the ram. So they tried to kick the front door open instead. The breacher’s foot went though the hollow door and stuck there. Everything went downhill from there.

Thankfully, the suspect was long gone. We inadvertently gave him plenty of warning that we were coming. He didn’t escape justice, however. It eventually caught up and he went to jail.

The Lord warned us that He is returning when we don’t expect Him. Life will happen just as it always has. Suddenly, He will arrive. Since He didn’t tell us when, He says be ready.

Our suspect could not escape judgment. Thankfully, however, we can. Jesus initially came as Savior, He will return as Judge. Yet the Judge promises a full pardon to whoever will trust Him as Savior. Judgement or salvation. For me, it is not a difficult choice.

“Behold, I am coming quickly!” (Revelation 22)