SCRIPTURE: Mark 13:24-27
History is moving towards a major showdown.
The kingdom of God will finally confront the kingdom of darkness.
All creation will groan and tremble, everything will seem bleak and hopeless, darkness will seem to triumph.
And in the final moment when darkness reigns, a light will shine, the sun will rise, a glimmer of hope…
The final trumpet will sound, and the Son of Man will come (think of Gandalf arriving at Helms Deep).
What a moment that will be; the hearts of the humble will rejoice, the hearts of the haughty will tremble!
Jesus will gather all nations before Him, and separate the good from the wicked (Matthew 25:31ff).
When Jesus comes, it will be the end of the old world, and the beginning of a new world.
The elect (God has chosen the humble, the meek, the repentant, the faithful) will be lifted up, while the cursed (God has rejected the arrogant, the violent, the unjust, the wicked) will be sent away.
At that time, creation will finally rejoice, for the children of God will finally be revealed (Romans 8:19).
What a day that will be!!!!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I so look forward to the day when the struggles and troubles of this life are over… for everyone. I so look forward when this world will finally look like the Paradise You meant it to be. Come quickly, Lord!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observation/Application
The distress of today – wars, floods, earthquakes, economics woes and more. But one day the sun will not shine and therefor the moon will not be a light at night and there will be stars falling from the sky and not man’s debris and Christ shall return! People will see Him in His splendour and majesty and glory and His kingdom will come in full – not in part but the whole. And He will reign. What a day that will be for His people. Paradise regained. Jesus reigns! He is Lord! Amen and Amen.
Prayer
Keep my eyes focussed on home Lord as I live this day for You in Your presence. Everyday is the Lord’s day and may others see that always in me.
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.
There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barb’rous nations at His word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.
To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His Name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His Name.
Blessings abound wherever He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blessed.
Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!
Great God, whose universal sway
The known and unknown worlds obey,
Now give the kingdom to Thy Son,
Extend His power, exalt His throne.
The scepter well becomes His hands;
All Heav’n submits to His commands;
His justice shall avenge the poor,
And pride and rage prevail no more.
With power He vindicates the just,
And treads th’oppressor in the dust:
His worship and His fear shall last
Till hours, and years, and time be past.
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send his influence down:
His grace on fainting souls distills,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.
The heathen lands, that lie beneath
The shades of overspreading death,
Revive at His first dawning light;
And deserts blossom at the sight.
The saints shall flourish in His days,
Dressed in the robes of joy and praise;
Peace, like a river, from His throne
Shall flow to nations yet unknown.