"For in one hour such great riches came to nothing." (Revelation 18:17a)
The end of the second quarter is near, and the reading in the Book of Revelation is coming to a close. Our text gives us one of the most solemn and "fear-of-the-Lord" statements in the Bible, "in one hour...." The riches of this world will, "c[o]me to nothing," and, it will happen, "in one hour...." What, my friend, are you laboring for? Soon our text will describe those who have rejected Jesus Christ and His Reign, "For in one hour such great riches came to nothing." It is not wise to, "labor for the food which perishes."
Even people who don't have much of this world's goods still labor far too much for, "great riches," because, "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Jesus said, "Do not labor for," such. Rather, "Labor for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." No time/space conditions can bring, "to nothing," What and Whom we have in Jesus Christ, "the Food which endures to everlasting/eternal life."
There are far, far too many today as those in the time of Peter who say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" They are in churches in the United States of America and around the world, people who have spent more time laboring for things which, "in one hour," will come, "to nothing." The Day is coming; keep prepared; keep in Jesus Christ; keep serving, loving, doing good deeds as, "the light of the world," and, "the salt of the earth....Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear...." In so doing, that, "one hour," in that one day of that one month of that one year will not catch us by surprise or unprepared, "to meet Thy God."
Father, in Jesus' Name, in this world of "oh-that-will-never-happen," help me to live and proclaim, "Yes it will." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
