by David Brenneman
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:1-8.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13.
"Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 23:18.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
When we look at what's to come it's a different revelation that we understand on how we're going to get there. The passages that come after the first from the book of Revelation really compliment that one well. Think on the cross for a moment. Jesus said it was finished. Here He says that it is done.
There is a day coming soon when indeed my God will judge the living and the dead. Those not saved in Christ that is. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Trillions of people who considered themselves right, pure and true, all heading for the Lake of Fire having tried to enter into Heaven by their own merits.
It's a very sobering time of thought when one considers just how finite we really are and that if not for that finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross we would be joining all humanity in that judgment. Jesus isn't willing that any should perish but that all might be saved. But alas countless billions and billions of people are filling up Hell ever single moment. Hell, that place that originally was intended for Satan and his demons. Satan's not ruling from Hell. Satan wants nothing to do with that place. He's lost many demons to that place because of the judgment of God.
What all are you doing in your life to honor the work of God in Christ Jesus in you?
What all are you doing to grow in Christ and in His character?
What all of Jesus has the world seen in you?
All things will pass away behold new things have come. That's what's in store for those who Believe. We cannot grasp eternity. We have a monumental problem figuring out how to dedicate an hour a day to studying God's Word. An hour! We dump an hour or more on entertainment but struggle with all our being to give back an hour to Jesus. This same Jesus to whom we will give an account of our lives before.
The funny thing about removing the main television from our home is that we really don't miss it. While we do find ourselves watching video clips and instructionals we aren't immersed in hours of wasted time. My current path in life has me reading 5 devotionals and 4 study Bibles. By the time I read the 4th study Bible the passage is sinking deeper into me. The devotionals are just the fries that are going well with the main course.
Here in the morning, the early morning, is when I meet with Jesus to read and write. The example of Jesus Christ was to rise up early to meet with His Father.
What are the things that you are doing that aren't helping you with growing in Christ?
What is really taking your mind away from the future and the hope that Revelation is speaking to?
We justify our selfish side all too often. We say we deserve me time. We say we deserve to be at rest by our definition of it. We say we're doing the best that we can. We say that we're not as strong as so-and-so. We compare ourselves with others then more or less give up striving for growing in Christ.
Yes we do these things. Then we wonder why prayer isn't being answered. We wonder why it seems that God's so far away.
We wonder what happened to our future, our hope.
Jesus never moved away from us. He's still standing on that path of righteousness that He's been directing our hearts to waiting for us to return to Him with our whole heart.
He died for us, shall we not strive to live for Him with our everything?
Won't it go better for us to have much to show with regards to the deeds done in our bodies that was done with a whole heart towards God in Christ?
There's not much, if any, hope in our own way of thinking. If there's any it will not last. Only hoping in Christ and His path for us will satisfy.
Take time to evaluate where you're wasting your time, energy and efforts. Deal with your limitations now and remove whatever is holding you back from the full life in Christ.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
No comments:
Post a Comment