Category: Revelation

  • Getting older and the hope of glory

    The stepstool beside it reminded me that I'm getting older

    I know I’m getting older. I used to hop up and down into the bed of a pickup with no problem. Now I much prefer to use a step stool. It’s not as cool, but I don’t look or feel as uncoordinated as I would without one, and frankly, it’s safer. As they say, “Getting older isn’t for wimps.” For all my young friends, you might not relate yet, but your time will come.

    One thing about getting older is that it is one step closer to glory. Now, like many Christians, I am really looking forward to being there with Jesus, but at the same time, I don’t want to go home yet.

    Going to be with Jesus isn’t something I spend my days obsessed with, but it does cross my mind the older I get. A friend from church passed away this week, unexpectedly, and while we know where he went, he will be missed by those left behind.

    I have no fear about what happens after my passing from this mortal coil. As a Christian believer, I know exactly where I’m headed.

    John’s Revelation of Jesus the Christ speaks at length about it, and there are plenty of hints and glimpses elsewhere in the Bible.

    Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

    When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

    It’s going to be a celebration unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. United with Jesus, the one who knew me and loved me enough to die for me. Gathered with every believer that ever was, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, economic status or any of the other artificial separators and dividers we use here in this world.

    All my sins and sorrows gone, no more pain and suffering. Joy unspeakable. Finally being all that God created me to be.  Free to serve Him in everything, with everything I do for His glory.

    Honestly, I can’t really comprehend what that will be like. I imagine the most peaceful and joy-filled moments in this life and know it will dwarf them. 

    Just meeting Jesus face to face will be better than anything this life has to offer. I don’t know how it will all unfold, but I hope that’s the first thing I see.

    Not sure about what will happen to you after death? Get right with Jesus today.

    I can hardly wait. What about you?

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Unchanging mountains – How will we fare when the Master returns?

    SUMMARY

    Getting older has a way of turning your eyes toward eternity — and for the believer, that’s not a bad thing. A friend’s unexpected passing this week, a step stool by the pickup truck, and the words of Revelation 19 and 1 Corinthians 13 all point the same direction: a celebration with Jesus that will dwarf anything this life has to offer.

    KEY POINTS:

    • Aging is one step closer to glory, and the Christian can face that reality with confidence rather than fear
    • Heaven is a wedding feast — face to face with Jesus, every believer gathered, every earthly divider gone
    • The most peaceful, joy-filled moments of this life won’t come close to what awaits

    The Gospel: The best news you will ever hear

  • Kingdom Diversity

    A diverse group of people rpresenting kingdom diversity

    Our creative God loves diversity. The world is an amazingly diverse place.

    There are an estimated 8.5 million eukaryotic species on Earth. If you’re like me, you had to look up the word eukaryotic. It refers to organisms whose cells contain a true nucleus and other membrane-bound structures, i.e., not bacteria and some other strange exotic things.

    The estimated number of galaxies in the observable universe is between 200 billion and 2 trillion. That’s a wide range, but it’s a big number.

    There are just over 8.2 billion people alive today. Scientists estimate there have been over 200 billion of us over time. Every one of them has been unique. That’s diversity.

    God loves every one of those 200 billion people, which is amazing. Estimates show that about 1/3 of the world’s population identifies as Christians. I believe that number is highly inflated, but it depends on how you define the term

    Still, even if the number is inflated (I think it’s probably closer to 1/10th of the world’s population who are born again), it shows that we have a lot of work to do to share the gospel. It also shows that the Christian world must be very diverse.

    Different skin colors, different languages. A diversity of music and worship formats. Different Bible translations. Theologies that vary. The list goes on.

    I’ve been blessed to worship in churches of various denominations, and in varying styles from the very formal liturgical to wildly charismatic. I’ve worshiped in prisons and with the underground church, where being a Christian could mean imprisonment and even death. I’ve worshipped in places. I didn’t know the language. Where true believers gather, the Holy Spirit is there.

    The Lord calls people of every nation to become adopted into the family of God. He planned for diversity in his church and eternal kingdom.

    One of my favorite images in Scripture appears in John’s Revelation of Jesus the Christ.

    After these things I looked, and behold, a great [multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen, the blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”Revelation 7:1-12

    What a worship service that’s going to be. Every sort of person and culture, united by one Holy Spirit in worship of the one true God.

    I can hardly wait. What about you?

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Revelation of God’s Love

    Summary

    God’s creation reflects incredible diversity—from millions of species and trillions of galaxies to billions of unique people—and His love extends to every one of them. The church is meant to reflect that diversity, bringing together people of every nation, language, and culture in worship of Jesus Christ.

    Key Points

    God intentionally created a diverse world and calls people from every background into His family.

    Christians worship in many different cultures, traditions, and expressions, yet are united by the same Holy Spirit.

    Revelation 7 paints a powerful picture of believers from every nation worshiping together before God’s throne for eternity.

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