Do you have joy
in your life? Do
you have a joy
unspeakable and
full of glory? I
look around me
and see church
members who are
depressed about
the situation
in our world
here at home and
abroad. We in
the church are
concerned about
our country and
the path our
leaders have
taken us, and
know judgment
could be just
over the
horizon. But I’m
reminded of the
good Boy Scouts
and their motto,
"Be prepared."
Disaster, either
natural or
man-made, can
occur at any
moment. A good
Boy Scout--or,
more
importantly, an
awake
Christian—prepares
for the
unexpected, the
natural
disaster, or
yes, even a
terrorist
attack. But
should we be
anxious, looking
over our
shoulders for
impending
disaster and
wringing our
hands in
worrisome
fretting over
the end
of all things?
Should we be
obsessed with
thoughts of the
end of the
world? I think
not.
I have held onto
the promises of
Psalm 91 since I
was a boy.
Whenever danger
has been about,
I have always
read and claimed
the promises in
this inspiring
passage written
by King David so
long ago. And in
this psalm
asking the
protection of
Almighty God,
there’s a catch,
per se:
The verse states
that we have to
stay right up
close to God to
be assured of
His protection
against the
everyday
challenges that
come our way. We
can’t try to
serve our Lord
haphazardly. If
we are
diligently
serving Him and
being ever
watchful, then
we’re promised
we have nothing
to fear. God is
in charge and is
watching over
each person who
is diligently
trying to serve
Him in faith and
who is watching
for the blessed
hope--the soon
return of our
Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
I get excited
about the signs
of the times
that are all
around us. As
one of the
“children of the
day” who is “not
blinded by being
in darkness,”
I know that the
Rapture could be
close--even
right at the
door. So I fear
not, and neither
should you. We
should be
longing for the
blessed promises
that God made
for His
children.
I just love the
words the Holy
Spirit prompted
the apostle Paul
to record in the
eighth chapter
of his book to
the Romans:
"The Spirit
itself beareth
witness with our
spirit, that we
are the children
of God And if
children, then
heirs; and
joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be
that we suffer
with him, that
we may be also
glorified
together. For I
reckon that the
sufferings of
this present
time are not
worthy to be
compared with
the glory which
shall be
revealed in us”
(Romans
8:16-18).
Yes, we have
aches, pains,
financial
problems and
loved ones who
die sooner than
we expect.
Sometimes, the
cares of this
life weigh us
down. But we
are given a
glorious promise
as we read on in
this passage:
“For the earnest
expectation of
the creature
waiteth for the
manifestation of
the sons of God.
For the creature
was made subject
to vanity, not
willingly, but
by reason of him
who hath
subjected the
same in hope,
Because the
creature itself
also shall be
delivered from
the bondage of
corruption into
the glorious
liberty of the
children of God.
For we know that
the whole
creation
groaneth and
travaileth in
pain together
until now. And
not only they,
but ourselves
also, which have
the firstfruits
of the Spirit,
even we
ourselves groan
within
ourselves,
waiting for the
adoption, to
wit, the
redemption of
our body. For we
are saved by
hope: but hope
that is seen is
not hope: for
what a man
seeth, why doth
he yet hope for?
But if we hope
for that we see
not, then do we
with patience
wait for it”
(Romans
8:19-25).
Notice how Paul
lays the
foundation by
turning our
attention to our
hope. He reminds
us that God
purposefully
made life
subject to
futility.
Futility is a
frustrating
quality that
wears away at
one’s
confidence. It
can produce a
sense of
hopelessness
that leads to us
to think that
nothing will
work out.
Sometimes
our pilgrimage
seems so long
and arduous that
we take our eyes
from our Savior.
Hopelessness
builds. However,
Paul reminds us
that God does
everything
in love and
wisdom, and for
our good. He
uses the
futility we
perceive, and
allows it to
point us to Him
as the source of
our strength.
This builds our
faith
in spite of our
circumstances.
“Likewise the
Spirit also
helpeth our
infirmities: for
we know not what
we should pray
for as we ought:
but the Spirit
itself maketh
intercession for
us
with groanings
which cannot be
uttered. And he
that searcheth
the hearts
knoweth what is
the mind of the
Spirit, because
he maketh
intercession for
the saints
according to the
will of God. And
we know that all
things work
together for
good to them
that love God,
to them who are
called according
to his purpose.
For whom he did
foreknow, he
also did
predestinate to
be conformed to
the image of his
Son, that he
might be the
firstborn among
many brethren”
(Romans 8:26).
We have been
called. We have
been chosen to
be conformed to
the image of our
great God and
Savior, Jesus
Christ our Lord,
through the will
of the
Father. Again,
“All things work
together for
good to them
that love God,
to them who are
called according
His purpose.”
Repeat that when
troubles come
your way and it
will increase
your faith.
Now let’s
contemplate just
for a moment the
implication of a
verse we quoted.
“We are heirs
and joint heirs
with Jesus
Christ” (verse
17). What a
glorious
promise!!! What
He is and what
is His will be
ours as well. We
will be like Him
in Spirit and in
relationships to
family fortunes.
Whatever belongs
to
the Son, we will
be given a
portion of that
inheritance.
That is
mind-boggling!
We will be kings
and priests who
will rule over
portions of this
universe and who
will do whatever
pleases the
Father. We will
have unlimited
access to His
throne room and
audience with
our Him and our
Savior Jesus
Christ. We will
be in the same
family, as
adopted sons and
daughters of the
Ruler of the
entire universe,
We will live
forever, even as
they live. Now
that
should get
anyone excited!
To end the
eighth chapter
of Romans, Paul
gives us another
promise that
cannot be
broken:
“Moreover whom
he did
predestinate,
them he also
called: and whom
he called, them
he also
justified: and
whom he
justified, them
he also
glorified. What
shall we then
say to these
things? If God
be for us, who
can be against
us? He that
spared not his
own Son, but
delivered him up
for us all, how
shall he not
with him also
freely give us
all things? Who
shall lay any
thing to the
charge of God's
elect? It is God
that justifieth.
Who is he that
condemneth? It
is Christ that
died, yea
rather, that is
risen again, who
is even at the
right hand of
God, who also
maketh
intercession for
us. Who shall
separate us from
the love of
Christ? shall
tribulation, or
distress, or
persecution, or
famine, or
nakedness, or
peril, or sword?
As it is
written, For thy
sake we are
killed all the
day long; we are
accounted as
sheep for the
slaughter. Nay,
in all these
things we are
more than
conquerors
through him that
loved us. For I
am persuaded,
that neither
death, nor life,
nor angels, nor
principalities,
nor powers, nor
things present,
nor things to
come, Nor
height, nor
depth, nor any
other creature,
shall be able to
separate us from
the love of God,
which is in
Christ Jesus our
Lord (Romans
8:30-39).
Nothing can come
between us and
our eternal
home. Nothing in
this life, and
nothing in this
mixed-up world
that we see self
destructing can
take away that
promise.
All He asks for
is our love, our
unwavering faith
in Him, our
obedience, and
our willingness
to put Him
first, ahead of
everything else.
He gave us a
way….the only
way.
Now turn to John
14:
“Let not your
heart be
troubled: ye
believe in God,
believe also in
me. In my
Father's house
are many
mansions: if it
were not so, I
would have told
you. I go to
prepare a place
for you. And if
I go and prepare
a place for you,
I will come
again, and
receive you unto
myself; that
where I am,
there ye may be
also. And
whither I go ye
know, and the
way ye know.
Thomas saith
unto him, Lord,
we know not
whither thou
goest; and how
can we know the
way? Jesus saith
unto him, I am
the way, the
truth, and the
life: no man
cometh unto the
Father, but by
me” (John
14:1-6).
Even as we
speak, Jesus,
our Savior and
soon-coming
King, is
preparing a
place for us.
Where? In His
Father’s house.
When? Right now.
His Father’s
house is
somewhere out
there in the
place some call
heaven. It’s
where the Father
and Son are
right now. What
will that mean,
and how will it
be accomplished?
I have believed
in the Rapture
all my life and
still do. The
timing is what
gets people all
in an uproar.
But from
Scripture, we
know that He is
close, very
close—even right
at the
door. When it
comes right down
to it, brethren,
the timing
doesn’t
matter--even
though I believe
in a Pretrib
Rapture. What
matters is just
that we get
there.
And how do we
get there? Jesus
gives the answer
in John 6:28-29:
“Then said they
unto him, What
shall we do,
that we might
work the works
of God? Jesus
answered and
said unto them,
This is the work
of God, that ye
believe on him
whom he hath
sent.”
We get there by
believing in
faith and
following the
commands of the
one God sent to
die for our
sins.
1 Peter chapter
1 states:
“Blessed be the
God and Father
of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
which according
to his abundant
mercy hath
begotten us
again unto a
lively hope by
the resurrection
of Jesus Christ
from the dead,
To an
inheritance
incorruptible,
and undefiled,
and that fadeth
not away,
reserved in
heaven for you,
Who are kept by
the power of God
through faith
unto salvation
ready to be
revealed in the
last time.v6
Wherein ye
greatly rejoice,
though now for a
season, if need
be, ye are in
heaviness
through manifold
temptations:
That the trial
of your faith,
being much more
precious than of
gold that
perisheth,
though it be
tried with fire,
might be found
unto praise and
honour and glory
at the appearing
of Jesus
Christ. Whom
having not seen,
ye love; in
whom, though now
ye see him not,
yet believing,
ye rejoice with
joy unspeakable
and full of
glory: Receiving
the end of your
faith, even the
salvation of
your souls” (1
Peter 3-9).
That is our
destiny; that is
our goal. That
is why we were
born. That is
why we struggle
with daily
living, and that
is why, as
Christians, we
will win—to the
glory of the
Father.
In these times
of uncertainty,
we should be in
glorious
expectation,
waiting for the
blessed hope,
that hope that
is in Jesus
Christ our Lord.
We must be
prepared, be
good stewards of
the talents He
has given us,
use His Word to
reach others,
and do the will
of the Father by
striving to
become the image
of
His Son. We must
put on the
“whole armor of
God,” as
Ephesians
6:13-17
admonishes us to
do:
“Wherefore take
unto you the
whole armour of
God, that ye may
be able to
withstand in the
evil day, and
having done all,
to stand. Stand
therefore,
having your
loins girt about
with truth, and
having on the
breastplate of
righteousness;
And your feet
shod with the
preparation of
the gospel of
peace; Above
all, taking the
shield of faith,
wherewith ye
shall be able to
quench all the
fiery darts of
the wicked. And
take the helmet
of salvation,
and the sword of
the Spirit,
which is the
word of God.”
Do you know this
Jesus? Are you
expecting His
soon return?
Have you made
that the most
important part
of your life?
Have you asked
Him to come
into your heart
and cleanse you
from all
unrighteousness?
He said “I am
the way, the
truth and the
life. No man
cometh unto the
Father, but by
Me” (John
14:6). Do you
believe Him? Is
the Holy Spirit
calling you
right now?
Pray these
simple words
with heartfelt
conviction”
“Lord, I ask you
to come into
my heart.
Cleanse me from
my sins. I
believe that you
lived and died
on a cruel cross
for my sins. I
believe you rose
from the dead on
the third day
after
you were buried,
and that you
live and sit now
at the right
hand of God the
Father. Soon
you will come
back, and I want
to go with you
onto glory. In
Jesus’ name,
I confess my
wish to be
saved. Amen.”
May God bless
you and keep
you. Remember,
Paul said in
Philippians
4:13, “ I can do
all things
through Christ
which
strengtheneth
me.“ Let us go
on with joy
unspeakable and
full of glory.”