by David Brenneman
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." James 5:7-8
Often life does feel like we're in a tunnel. We got in it. We can really only go forward. We are looking for a something.
We came to the Light, the Light of Jesus Christ, and now that apparent tunnel is illuminated.
We are on a path set before us for sure. It's honestly not really a tunnel. We also aren't alone by any stretch of the imagination. Regardless of what we feel, Jesus has and always will keep that promise to never leave us or forsake us.
It's critical to note that our world is playing on our emotions. Sadly, it can even be as bad in the professing church as it is outside of it. Largely it's a campaign. Have seen these campaigns push push push to get people to join this or that, sign up for this subscription or that. Microsoft even incorporated a campaign manager software to literally irritate people into upgrading out of Windows 10.
The coming of the Lord Jesus is on the horizon. The horizon line hasn't moved. It's not our imagination that indeed just as the Bible says, people ARE proceeding from bad to worse. The battlefield is growing across the world against Christians as well as Jews. People really are behaving just as it was in the days of Noah. Everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. Canceling people who don't agree with them and who aren't publicly endorsing their lifestyle.
Was reading John 10 yesterday and it left me wondering about Jesus's return. Sure there is the Biblical statement of there being a shout proceeding the calling of the Church to leave this world. With what Jesus has said of how personal our life is with Him, and this in John 10...I wonder...will Jesus call me by name as well?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:1-18.
Jesus said as well that He goes to prepare a place for you and I. This too is a deeply personal statement. Just as what He says here by Him knowing His sheep by name.
My Dear Reader, our lives are more than just not our own. It's more than our lives being bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. We who are in Christ are in a deeply personal relationship with our Savior and Lord. He knows you by name!
Someone once, ok many have, joked that had Jesus not specifically said "Lazarus come forth!" everyone would have been resurrected.
When He returns...I somehow can't see how it's not going to be a deeply personal experience. Our coming to Christ was a deeply personal experience. Our standing before Jesus to give an account of our lives will be a deeply personal experience. Our time in eternity with Jesus will be a deeply personal experience. Why wouldn't our exit from death to life at the resurrection? The dead in Christ rise first. This too points to the notion of this being deeply personal.
His sheep hear His voice. Think about that. He is the protector of His sheep.
That life before you and I has an end in sight. We are exhorted to run the race to finish well. Keeping our eyes on the prize.
Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me". "My sheep hear my voice".
We are also exhorted to be sure of our salvation in Christ Jesus.
As you go out into the world...today could be that day...or it might not be. We are to be ready at all times for we do not know the day nor the hour. Jesus said He is coming back.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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