by David Brenneman
1 This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.
2 This is my Father's world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
3 This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!
- "This is My Father's World" - Maltbie D. Babcock 1901
Woke up to this playing in my mind and after reading my Bible this morning and the selections of the plan that I'm using...it's appropriate.
To many in this world, especially if you actually believe what you see on the news outlets...this world is going to hell in a handbasket. Yet wait...there's more.
This world has yet to see the kind of hell in a handbasket that's coming.
Our world in which we live was designed and created by God and was originally intent to be humanity's abode while they lived in harmony with their creator.
Satan introduced sin and that handbasket has gotten bigger each day, week, month, year, decade, century.
But there is good news! Jesus is indeed coming back to deal with sin's issues. Bible prophecy is replete with telling us that it will be so. While the attacks on Christianity are on the rise, this too has been expected. The world governments are all about "peace and safety!" while all the while they are behind the wars and rumors of wars that the Bible also said we'd know about.
Jesus is coming soon and will be taking His Bride, the Church from this world and then those who are left are going to know what devistation is all about on a global scale. Combined, WWI and WWII and every war since will look like it was a playground brawl.
The warnings are all there for all to see. Jesus said that when you see these things coming, get ready.
Well...we see them coming...they are here. 7 years of tribulation have been determined by the Scriptures. A time of such troubles upon the world that had it not been shortened nobody would survive it. Think long and hard about that outcome. Currently there's more than 8 billion people on this planet. Had God not been merciful with that tribulation time none of the 8 plus billion people would survive it. Minus the population that are His Church that is. The Church of God will not be here during that time period.
Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior or is He no more than the 'man upstairs' to you? Are you in a relationship with Him? That's the differentiator to all between those who are saved and those who are not really and only thought so. You can't come to Christ and then not become involved with a Bible preaching, Bible believing Church. You need to be fed spiritually. Coming to Christ is but the beginning. A relationship with Him must follow. Growing in Christ is a necessity.
Remember what the Scriptures said...Jesus Himself said after He separates His sheep from those who are not...both actually claimed belief. Only His sheep had a relationship with Him.
This is my Father's world...my Father who's in Heaven. When He says so, Jesus will step out of Heaven once more to reclaim His Church. That sets everything in motion that will not be stopped until 7 yeare are done, and all judgements for that time are completed. Then Jesus Himself will rule and reign in Jerusalem across the whole world. For a thousand years it will be that way. No wars. No diseases. Yet...even in the perfectness of His rule...in that thousand years mankind will fester a resentment that, once he's released, Satan will take advantage of and try to go to war against the Lord Most High and Jesus won't lift a finger. He will speak a word and the battle will be over.
That's what's coming...to my Father's world. He said it in the Scriptures and it will come to pass.
Knowing that you are truly saved is crucial to your eternity and where it will be spent.
If you are indeed saved...does the world even know you are?
If you are not saved...what's been keeping you? Fears of what might become of you? What's to fear? Jesus has your best life planned for you and not one of fear. But you have to invite Him in to be the forgiver of your sins and to be the Leader of your life.
Who can be saved? Everyone who breathes the breath of life. Matters not what corner of the globe you are at Jesus will come to you and be your Savior and Lord. He will begin a relationship with you. It does not matter if you are in prison or on death row. Does not matter if you're in kindergarten through high school, college or in any profession. Jesus will meet you where you are.
What does it take?
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
That's all it takes. Salvation is simple enough for a child to understand it.
As another great hymn says "trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus...but to trust and obey".
This is my Father's World and soon the unrightful ruler of it will be usurped. Jesus is coming back...people get ready. I'm ready for the shout that will take the Church of God out of this world...are you?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
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