Issue 1513 – Trumpets – August 1, 2024
Wow, it’s August 1st already. The summer is flying past. Where has the time gone?
I was sitting in the yard yesterday, contemplating the passing of time and enjoying the beauty of some delightful, trumpet-shaped white flowers.
Most of our hostas have already finished blooming and are setting seed, but they are just beginning to flower in one spot. This patch starts and finishes later than the others.
The trumpet-like flowers brought the sound of trumpets to mind. The word trumpet occurs more than 50 times in the Bible, mainly in the Old Testament. It refers to the shofar, a horn made from the horn of a ram, which was blown for ceremonial purposes, as a warning call, and when the Israelites went to war. It also had a religious purpose, being blown in worship and religious processions.
I was thinking more of the New Testament usage, where Jesus is speaking about His return.
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:31
The body of Matthew 24 speaks of the signs of his coming return, including the temple’s destruction. Theologians are divided on this passage and similar passages in Revelation. Which parts have been fulfilled already, yet to come, and which will see another fulfillment? What should we take literally, and what is figurative language?
It is fascinating to study and debate this, but if we are not careful, we can miss the point. Jesus is returning for his church. That’s excellent news, especially for the part of His church that is persecuted and suffering.
If we are His, we will be united with Him forever. That’s a promise for all who believe. That reunion may come at the end of our earthly lives or occur at any moment.
We can rest in the promises of Christ.
The older I get, the more I think about the sound of those trumpets and being with the Lord. That’s natural. If Jesus doesn’t burst onto the scene suddenly, the older we get, the closer we are to our demise and reunion.
Christians are already part of the Kingdom. That starts the moment we believe. At that instant, we have been adopted by the King and made citizens of heaven. It isn’t just something that happens after we die or the Lord returns. There will come a time when we are fully with Him. What a moment that will be.
As we wait, we live for Him and serve Him. We worship with all the other believers. Let’s make the most of it.
Is that the sound of trumpets in the distance? Are you ready?
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)