The Rest of the Story

It’s not just sensationalism that brings us these headlines.
Putin threatens use of nukes.
Europe facing cold winter.
Energy prices (and everything else) rise.
Climate changes with far-reaching consequences.
China builds military for future Pacific war.

This is the wider world in which we live in 2022.  Add news like that to the normal stresses of our daily lives and we have a recipe for real anxiety which is huge issue for millions of us.  People deal with it in so many ways, some healthy like talking with friends, mediation, prayer, and working for change.  Other choices are not so great – becoming disengaged from the world, losing one’s self in endless distractions in work or fun, abusing alcohol or drugs, or even excessive religiosity, believe it or not.

Jesus reminds us that “The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up. Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with power and great glory.  So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:26-28 (NLT) 

The Blessed Hope of the believer is the Second Coming of the Lord Who will bring the rule of God and good to us.  Have the problems, pressures, and pleasures of life pushed that promise to the back of your mind?

Christian friend, we live hopefully because we know the rest of the story!   Our lives are not defined by birth and death. We are eternal beings, our true Home waiting, our full destiny yet to be revealed. By faith we understand that this world, though full of uncertainties for us, is guided by the purposes of our God, Who will bring us safely into His kingdom, whether at the coming of the Lord or when we step from here into eternity.  What hope, what an anchor.

The promise of the Second Coming is not an empty one designed to explain away the troubles of life or allow us to escape reality. Karl Marx wrote that religion is “the opiate of the masses,” dulling the senses of people to their reality, removing the impulse to make positive changes in the world.  Some may choose that route, but I will not. 

Because I live with greater hope, I am powerfully motivated to live in love, with joy, working for justice and peace in this world so that my coming Lord will welcome me to His side with His commendation.  Those who blithely dismiss this world to Hell because they have a greater hope have missed the point.  Theirs may be an eternal home, but not the joy of hearing the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  It is beyond my comprehension that one could claim to love Him and refuse His calling to loving service.

This Monday morning, ‘stand straight and look up!’  Our redemption is nearer than we think.

The word from the Word encourages. Take a moment to soak your mind in it, to worship the King. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)  Now, that is a great remedy for worry and fear, isn’t it?

(Video of this blog at this link)

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 Even So Come

 All of creation all of the earth
Make straight a highway a path for the Lord
Jesus is coming soon

 Call back the sinner wake up the saint
Let ev'ry nation shout of Your fame
Jesus is coming soon

 Like a bride waiting for her groom
We'll be a Church ready for You
Ev'ry heart longing for our King we sing
Even so come Lord Jesus come
Even so come Lord Jesus come

 There will be justice all will be new
Your name forever faithful and true
Jesus is coming soon

 So we wait we wait for You
God we wait You're coming soon
So we wait we wait for You
God we wait You're coming soon

 Like a bride waiting for her groom
We'll be a Church ready for You
Ev'ry heart longing for our King we sing
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We'll be a Church ready for You
Ev'ry heart longing for our King we sing
Even so come Lord Jesus come
Even so come Lord Jesus come

God we wait we wait for You

God we wait You're coming soon

God we wait we wait for You
Yes we wait You're coming soon
God we wait You're coming soon oh

 

Chris Tomlin | Jason Ingram | Jess Cates

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