The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Hebrews 10:37,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"For in just a very little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay.'"
The writer of Hebrews anticipated an imminent return of Jesus Christ. "For in just a very little while…" We see this outlook in a few other passages in the New Testament. The first century church, which which was guided and cared for by the original apostles themselves looked for a very near-term return of our resurrected and ascended Lord.
Mistaken? I think not. Although today is a couple millennia later and the Lord has still not returned, my perspective is that the Lord wants each of us to feel that sense of imminence in our hearts. For each one of us he is not far away. But the world will witness a very dramatic and traumatic earth-shaking return of the Lord. Far from the quiet entrance Jesus made in Bethlehem years ago, the two men who appeared with the disciples when Jesus was taken up into the clouds before their eyes said, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.
Indeed, it will be heralded earth-wide, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…", 1 Thessalonians 4:16. When this takes place all we know of this world is going to change.
We all have different perspectives on this world we live in today. At times we may see life in this world a wonderful opportunity to experience all God has created us for. A world full of beauty and fascination. At other times we may see a world that is corrupt and vile, populated by people who elbow others out of the way as they seize what they can for themselves. No matter what our perspective is on this world, it is a world that exists under God's condemnation and judgment. A world that will reap the inevitable consequence of sin that has corrupted the original design of its creator. This world has a shelf-life that is quickly approaching its expiration date. Like a huge massive freight train that has already left the station, the world as we know it has a scheduled unstoppable arrival headed its way: God's judgment.
Peter's perspective is given this way, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:3-10.
We all need to buckle-up and get prepared for a wild ride! Our Lord Jesus Christ is headed our way!
The writer of Hebrews anticipated an imminent return of Jesus Christ. "For in just a very little while…" We see this outlook in a few other passages in the New Testament. The first century church, which which was guided and cared for by the original apostles themselves looked for a very near-term return of our resurrected and ascended Lord.
Mistaken? I think not. Although today is a couple millennia later and the Lord has still not returned, my perspective is that the Lord wants each of us to feel that sense of imminence in our hearts. For each one of us he is not far away. But the world will witness a very dramatic and traumatic earth-shaking return of the Lord. Far from the quiet entrance Jesus made in Bethlehem years ago, the two men who appeared with the disciples when Jesus was taken up into the clouds before their eyes said, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.
Indeed, it will be heralded earth-wide, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…", 1 Thessalonians 4:16. When this takes place all we know of this world is going to change.
We all have different perspectives on this world we live in today. At times we may see life in this world a wonderful opportunity to experience all God has created us for. A world full of beauty and fascination. At other times we may see a world that is corrupt and vile, populated by people who elbow others out of the way as they seize what they can for themselves. No matter what our perspective is on this world, it is a world that exists under God's condemnation and judgment. A world that will reap the inevitable consequence of sin that has corrupted the original design of its creator. This world has a shelf-life that is quickly approaching its expiration date. Like a huge massive freight train that has already left the station, the world as we know it has a scheduled unstoppable arrival headed its way: God's judgment.
Peter's perspective is given this way, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:3-10.
We all need to buckle-up and get prepared for a wild ride! Our Lord Jesus Christ is headed our way!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment