His Return

Daniel‬ ‭7:13-14 - “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall NOT be destroyed.

In the Old Testament Daniel had a vision of a future event. A very distant future event, one that hasn’t even happened yet. That’s not to say it won’t ever happen. If it’s in the Bible, it is God’s Word to us and it is true, and can be trusted. He cannot lie. It is even told us just what the world will be like prior to Jesus’ return. It’s all there in the Book for us to read about, from which to learn. It’s good to know these things.

Jesus will return whether it is believed or not. And everyone will know what we can know and understand today, if we want this knowledge. We can’t assume Jesus won’t return in our lifetime. It could be today. We have been told and warned. Whenever...it will be a glorious day. Who is prepared for that day? It won’t be very many, we are told. But if you’re reading this, you can be ready if you choose to.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians‬ ‭2:9-11‬)

We will all see His return. Some look forward to it, some scoff at the idea. When He does, however, every knee will bow and tongue confess Him. That doesn’t get the scoffers off the hook, though. There will still be judgment and those who believed will be granted eternal life where those who scoffed eternal damnation. Hard words. Truth. 

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke‬ ‭21:25-27‬)

He will come victorious. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, ... to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever ... ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭9:6-7‬)

I await anxiously for Jesus’ return. I’ve seen enough of the evils, anger and hatred in this world, yet I’m afraid we will see even more. What will only tomorrow’s headlines be? Making this country or even the world great again, I believe, will only happen upon His return. 

We cannot, as many do, expect government or a man to bring peace and safety in a world filled with evil and hatred. True peace comes from Jesus and we can have that ourselves today by receiving and knowing Him. That will get us through our lives on earth. But the signs are getting very clear that the days are getting closer to His return. It’s all over the pages of the Bible. Many will scoff at this too. Better to be safe than sorry. Do the research. One needs to be living as though the time is very near or it will not be good. The only good in this life is Jesus. Nothing in this world is so important that one wants to lose his life for something other than Jesus. 

Revelation‬ ‭1:7-8 - Behold, He is coming with clouds, and EVERY eye will see Him, EVEN they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and WHO IS TO COME, the Almighty.”

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Oh, What They Did!

Genesis 33:3 - Then he [Jacob] crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Oh, the forgiveness and grace of our Lord. Oh, the humility.

Jacob and his brother Esau were at odds with each other as young men. Jacob fled for fear of losing his life to his brother's hand, even though Jacob had initially deceived Esau. But now many years later, after Jacob had been deceived (what goes around comes around?) by his father in law, God told him it was time to go back home, to his land and his brother; He would deal well with him when he did. 

So, despite trepidation and some precautions, Jacob did return. Despite God's words, His promise that all would be well, Jacob had some fear of the unknown. And when the time came he bowed in total humility before his brother. And his brother was no longer angry.

Isaac, the brothers' father, had unknowingly blessed Jacob, the second son with the inheritance Esau should have had as the first son. Part of that blessing was that Jacob's brother Esau would be a servant to him. So, in this case of deception, older would serve younger. 

I think about Jesus and how He came, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to serve us through His humiliation, mocking and death on the cross...for those who would call on His name to be saved. He came not to be served but to serve. This is our Lord. Once we have gotten to that place of understanding Him as our Lord and bowing before Him, then it is our duty to serve Him and let His story be told. When we bow in total humility before Him, His forgiveness envelopes us. 

It's all about Him, serving and obeying and trusting in Him. We can do nothing in this life on our own, but in Him we can do all things. Later in Genesis we will see how God uses Jacob, whose name by now has been changed by God to Israel. Israel...God's land and His people. 

Matthew 20:26-28 - Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Be Lifted Up

John‬ ‭3:30-31‬ ‭- He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

I attended a different church in Arizona this past weekend. We sang a wonderful song I'd never heard before, Be Lifted Up. Very simple song, with powerful message.

The first verse of the scripture above came to mind...He must increase, but I must decrease. We humble ourselves before Him. That means bowing. Then...He will lift us up. As I read the context of scripture it added to the meaning. Again! It's all about Him...and has nothing to do with me...without Him. He must increase while I must decrease. Who knows best? I still need a better realization of this. 

Then this came to mind: 

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ‭‭(John‬ ‭15:4-5‬)

Jesus, the vine. Me, a branch. I can do nothing (worthwhile) without Him. I cannot live without His giving me my next breath. To do the will of the Father, I must submit and allow Him to be the Lord of my life. How well am I doing, I wonder sometimes?

Do you notice the order of things? He must increase...first...but I must decrease. Perfect sense. He is Alpha and Omega, First and Last. He, according to the opening scripture, is above all. That automatically puts us lower. To bow...mmmm...lower still. 

In just a few short lines of the song, a very powerful message was brought forth. It came from scripture. Scripture is God's truth. God does not lie. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We can rely on Him, if we first bow humbly before Him. If we do, He alone will lift us up. Hallelujah! 

He sustains those who bow to Him. He is near to those who call upon Him. He fulfills our desires if we look to Him in reverence. He saves and preserves only those whosoever shalls who call on the name of the Lord, and willingly bow before Him. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:3,John‬ ‭3:7‬)

...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans‬ ‭10:9-11,13‬)

Man is stubborn. Man wants his own way. Man in rebellion to God determines his own eternal fate. The Bible says today is the day of salvation. Why delay?

Psalm 145:14-15,18-20‬ ‭- The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.