From My Perspective - - -
All of us have a choice in life. We can
either (a) focus on the chaos of the world in which we live, or (b) focus on
our expectation and hope of entering a heavenly home where there is no chaos,
pain, hardship or sorrow. What one does between being a conqueror amid the
chaos in the world and being ready for the heavenly dwelling place is of the
utmost importance.
In just a few days, March 5, 2014, the
Lenten Season begins. It is good to review the events of the life of Christ and
the death He would die. Many have a friend who weekly enters a post and graphic
on her webpage that states: “Worship Him. Remember - Every Sunday is Easter
Sunday.” The point of this entry is twofold: (1) Sunday needs to be viewed as
The Lord’s Day, and (2) The object of one’s worship is The One who was raised
from the dead on the first day of the week – Jesus Christ. A fascinating verse is II Corinthians 5:15, “he died for all, that those who live
might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died
and was raised.” It is the last phrase that serves as the basis and hope that
one has in Jesus Christ – “He was raised.”
Another significant passage as a basis for
one’s expectation and hope is John 14. Jesus is speaking to His disciples about
His leaving them and where He will be going. John 14:1-3, 27 states: “Let not
your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also
in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would
I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also. Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let
not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” He is saying to
His followers: (1) Heaven is a Promised Place; (2) Heaven is a Prepared Place; and
(3) Heaven is a Peaceful Place.
What will occur when a believer in the Lord
Jesus Christ is reunited with Him? Revelation 21:1-7 gives one a
glimpse of what it will be like when Jesus returns and we are caught up to be
with Him. John writes: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…And
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as
a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: Behold, the
dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell
with them, and they will be his people, and God himself
will be with them as their God. He
will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying,
nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he
who was seated on the throne said: Behold, I am
making all things new…It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life
without payment…”
Walter S. Harrah wrote the lyric for an
anthem that captures the words of this passage:
”The timeless theme, earth and heaven will
pass away. It's not a dream; God will make all things new that day.
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell. Evil is banished to eternal
hell.
“See all
around, now the nations bow down to sing. The only sound is the praises to
Christ, our King. Slowly the names from the book are read. I know the King, so
there's no need to dread.
“See over there, there's a mansion, oh
that's prepared just for me, where I will live with my Savior eternally.” And
the Refrain triumphantly resounds: “No more night. No more pain. No
more tears. Never crying again. And praises to the great "I
AM." We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.”
The words of I Thessalonians 4:13-18 are important
for one to remember: “I do not want you to be ignorant (uninformed)…concerning those
who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope…For
the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an
archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then
we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore
comfort one another with these words.”
Consider these things with me!
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