"Every Eye Shall See Him, Even Those Who Pierced Him"

"He Who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.'  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen."  (Revelation 22:20, 21)

It is only fitting that I choose this text since today I finished the Bible.  I think it not strange that our Lord Jesus Christ should conclude His Words with these Words, "Surely I am coming quickly."  There is, however, less and less reference to this glorious promise.  We are told that "millennials" particularly couldn't care less about this.  This has been recent "church history."

Peter says in his Second Epistles, "....knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days,..saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning.  For this they willingly are ignorant of....", says the KJV.  Willing ignorance comes from choosing not to accept the, "Words of God," and choosing rather to trust our mental reasoning.  That is the battle, my friend.  Eve lost this battle because she believed her reasoning rather than the, "Words of God." Jesus warns us of this battle which is so powerful that, "even the elect," were in danger. 

It is no surprise that the Bible "ends" with a reminder from our Lord Jesus Christ that He is, "Surely...coming quickly."  Do not listen to the naysayers who reason, "For since the fathers fell asleep," nothing of the apocalypse has occurred.  Here, instead, are the Words we should believe: "Every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him.  And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.  Even so, Amen."  You and I, however, will rejoice with, "....joy unspeakable and full of glory!" 

I conclude this "trip" through the Bible with Jesus' Words, and the benediction of the Godhead, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

You Want To Worship?!? This Will Take You "There"

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and a storm....But you have come to...Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled Blood that speaks a better Word than the blood of Abel."  (From Hebrews 12, NIV)

No, I won't copy the whole text here.  But, if you want a "worship experience," just read the Hebrews 12:18-29 text.  All I can say is, IT'S DANCING TIME!

Of course, the passage is full of time/space language to help illustrate something of what the Holy Spirit is saying.  Let me select just a few.

"You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the Church of the first born, whose names are written in Heaven....See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks....Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.............."

Now, from Hebrews 11, "And what more shall I say?  I do not have time to tell about [those] who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions....There were others who were tortured....Some faced jeers....They were put to death....Yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."  My, my, my.

"Rise up, O men of God! (women and children too)

Have done with lesser things

Give heart and mind and soul and strength

To serve the King of Kings", Who is none other than Jesus, the Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are forever in me.  That is what You tell me.  Holy Spirit, help me to so walk therein, "Whose names are written in Heaven."  Thank You!  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Break Into the Fifth Dimension

"....Jesus Christ is in you".  (2 Corinthians 13:5)

I must share a little more about yesterday's text.  I had a glorious "encounter" this morning as I meditated on it/Him, "Jesus Christ is in you".  Revelation 3:20 is another supporting text, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him...."

So, I encourage you to find a time, place sometime today and allow yourself a five minute blessing.  Pray on, think on, whatever you can do on, "Jesus Christ is in you."  In fact, right now, right where you are, take a moment and repeat, "Jesus Christ is in [me]."  This is the whole "objective" of the Cross, the Death, the Resurrection, Ascension, and soon Second Appearing of Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, there is something in the text which also explains the "purpose" of, "Let us make man in our image." 

Now I know the language of Genesis 1-3 does not seem to support that The Living Triune God in, "Jesus Christ is in you", but that is only because you and I still struggle to get out of our two dimensional thinking.  The Godhead was, "....walking in the garden in the cool of the day."  Okay, and we also read that Adam and Eve, because of disobedience, were basically attempting to hide from Him.  Again, however, our two dimensional thinking keeps us from so much glorious reality which is for humanity in Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit. 

Mankind has some concept of the four dimensions of breadth, length, height, and time.  Yet what mankind cannot comprehend on its own is the "fifth dimension," i.e., eternity.  It is here, my friend, in the Eternal Life in Jesus Christ, where you and I should be doing more of our "thinking," living, hoping, rejoicing.  "Jesus Christ is in you".

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no comprehension in all of this.  But I so do thank You that I have You, yes, rather, that You have me.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Speak The Truth In Love," Can Be Code For, "Don't Speak the Truth"

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless in deed you are disqualified. "(2 Corinthians 13:5)

The Word translated, "disqualified," literally means, "rejected, counterfeit, castaway."  I guess we can say that, "Jesus Christ is in you'," is so very important to our Eternal Life, that if we ever forget this, there is no other "end" for us than to be, "rejected, counterfeit, castaway." 

With such language, I believe the Holy Spirit is revealing just how important, foundational is the Truth, "Christ in you, the hope of glory," and, "Abide in Me, and I in you," and, "I will never, ever leave you, nor forsake you."  Then our Lord Jesus repeats this in our text, "Jesus Christ is in you". 

Our text commands us to, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves."  Concerning what?  Concerning how we believe, hold to, and walk in, "....that Jesus Christ is in you".  Only if we are regular Bible readers will we be able and "qualified" to walk in the Truth of, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ.  Depending on any other source for our theology, belief system, ultimately will bring our daily living to, "rejected, counterfeit, castaway."  

The Holy Spirit is reminding the Corinthians, you, and me that, "Jesus Christ is in you", that, "Jesus Christ is in you", that, "Jesus Christ is in you".  We do not "pick up God" when we get into some "anointed" meeting, or, "Wow!  Did he/she ever lead us into the presence of God."  Nonsense.  "Jesus Christ is (present tense) in you".  If we ever forget this, we will not, cannot walk in victory.  Any "victory" based on any other theology is an illusory victory.  "Jesus Christ is in you", is, again, what the Bible declares as, "....the hope of glory." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, though I cannot comprehend this, I surely do glory in it, YOU!  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"We Have A Building...Eternal"

"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens....Now He Who has prepared us for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee." (2 Corinthians 5:1 & 5)

"....We have a building...eternal in the heavens...," and verse 3 states, "....that mortality may be swallowed up by life."  This is really the only "destiny" about which we should be concerned.  This should "settle things."

So much of our "spiritual" talk centers on "mortality" life, your "destiny in God," "how to find your purpose in life," "discovering your spiritual gifts."  Fine.  But how much emphasis (not a question) should you and I place in the glorious reality that, "....We have a building...eternal in the heavens."  Luther wrote, "Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also." 

When someone says to you, "The best is yet to come," I can only pray that both you and they mean, "....eternal in the heavens."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for my "eternal building."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2