2023-07-21
Good Morning Dear Ones,
With having read as much of the Scriptures over the years as we have, curiosity about what the Lord Jesus will do when that day that He returns as is the promise of AC 1: 11. During a teaching moment with His disciples, in MT 24: 36, Jesus replies to their question about when He will return. “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Yes, there have been many false teachers who think they “know” but there is nothing on earth to give an exact date—they shouldn’t be believed. While we can’t know the exact date and time, we are given some intriguing information about this second coming in ZECH 14: 3-9, which I hope you will read. I’m sure the disciples wanted to know and faced the same impatience for that day that you and I may have. Yes, we like to know the facts!
There are unanswered questions which arise from the supernatural descriptions found at the ends of the Gospels and in other prophecies. The God I know has His plan of salvation and never makes a decision that is evil, unfair, or not in keeping with His own will. For example, how do we know where Judas Iscariot would find the Lord at the time of His arrest? It’s a place where the disciples and Jesus had met before. We mustn’t forget that Jesus knew ahead that Judas would be His betrayer. Our omniscient God has wisdom so far greater than our own [IS 55: 8-9]. It is clear God wants us to have faith and has shown by promises kept in the past, that He is good for His words. He has never broken a promise ever.
Faith is defined in HE 11: 1 as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we don’t see.” This intangible truth is borne in what we know in our hearts about what has happened and what will happen. God has no evil in Him [1 JN 1: 5]. Because of God’s great wisdom, we are not told some things directly in the Scriptures, being left to decide either that it will or will not happen, e.g. Christ’s second coming. Now, lets take this matter to the next step: learning to keep one’s faith strong and wait patiently for God’s timing. Can we put a date on the calendar, or must we read the Scriptures to learn some important truth? 2 PET 3: 8-9, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The matter of time occupied Einstein in his theory of relativity and other scientists trying to understand it. But the real issue here is that we must accept it is in the Father’s hands only and we must learn to wait patiently doing all we can to spread the faith, encourage and strengthen the faith of others, and live in a way acceptable to Him.
It's one thing to say believe and be patient. But it is another to obey JAS 2: 17, which tells us, “faith without actions is dead.” There is a great deal we can do to be prepared for that day, whenever it happens, for Christ’s second coming. The story of Christ’s arrest is found in JN 18: 1-11. While the other disciples than Judas didn’t want Jesus to be harmed in any way, we find in reading this passage, in vs 9, a previous prophecy being fulfilled-“I have not lost one of those You have given Me,” spoken by the Lord Jesus. Herein, Christ has modeled sacrificial obedience to the Father, when He utters to those there, in vs 11, “…Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Once again, we see Christ’s sacrificial obedience in LK 22: 42, the night before when the disciples are sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane and He utters, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will but Yours be done.” We should all look deeply into our own heart-attitudes and ask ourselves: Am I doing all I can to be obedient, even to sacrifice? How patiently do I wait for what the Lord promises? How real and profound is my faith in Him?
PRAYER: O Lord, we are weak and born into sin. But our situation is not without hope. Our Lord Jesus came as a lowly teacher demonstrating Your willingness to be humbled before us. He obediently and freely gave His life on the cross, so that we who believe may be saved and eternally forgiven. We express our gratitude, loyalty, and deepening faith in Your superior wisdom as we pray today and always. We pledge to share our faith with those willing to listen or observe our behavior. Each life of a believer is made richer by friendships You forge in it. Your love for us can be easily seen, and we are grateful that nothing can separate us from Your love [RO 8: 38-39]. We offer You thanks and praise, for enabling us to wait for God’s perfect time and way to keep His promises. You are to be always praised! In Christ’s holy/mighty name we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: There is more the Holy Spirit wants me to write about on JN 18: 1-11, so that will be the starting point for next week’s message. There is a need to discuss the nature of the Trinity, so we can better understand the relationship between God’s three personalities. Moreover, the greatness of God should be better understood too. One must ask: Who is this Lord of my life? How can I find my own peace with Him? Can I truly understand JN 15: 12-17, which I hope you will read. As will any vow taken before God, our Kinsman-Redeemer we must think first and know it is a commitment that will benefit us for eternity.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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