I cannot adequately explain the love, grace, mercy, or patience of God as He deals with sinners (including me). I cannot adequately explain the dimensions of the plan of redemption which the Father designed before the world was created and put into motion on the day that sin began. I cannot adequately explain the joy and peace that comes from knowing and abiding in Christ. I cannot explain the comforting companionship of the Holy Spirit. Even after 30 years of Bible study, I cannot adequately explain the Bible or the books of Daniel and Revelation because I consider myself still a beginner.
I am so thankful that God gave us the books of Daniel and Revelation. They provide a wonderful road-map for the end time scenario. We have a chance to understand Jesus’ coming actions. I eagerly anticipate the revelation of Jesus (the breaking of the fourth seal) because the human race desperately needs to reconnect with its Creator. The curse of sin has placed the world in darkness and rebellion. The curse of sin has caused endless sorrow, suffering, violence, illness, and death. The curse of sin has spawned predators who prey upon children, the elderly and anyone who they can overpower. The curse of sin has led man to put his faith in money and his love to be displaced by lust. Man’s character is corrupt and loyalty to ennobling principles has vanished. It is the curse of sin that causes God’s wrath to come, and it surely will come.
The curse of sin left Jesus to face several challenges. First, Lucifer’s jealous hatred focused on Jesus in Heaven, and then it focused on Adam and Eve, two people who Jesus loved enough to die in their place. Then, Lucifer’s attention moved toward the destruction of the world, but Jesus saved eight souls in Noah’s day. As time progressed, Lucifer focused on Israel, but Jesus saved a remnant (His Church) out of Israel. Lucifer focused on Baby Jesus, only to have His parents be given a warning to escape. Lucifer tried again by sealing Jesus in the tomb of death, only to have Jesus released. Lucifer fought against Jesus in Heaven on Resurrection Sunday, but Jesus prevailed. Thrown to Earth, Lucifer focused on the woman, the bride of Christ, but she too, escaped. Let me be clear, Lucifer will soon persecute the remnant of the woman, but a remnant will live to see Jesus appear at the Second Coming. In his attempt to conquer Jesus and His creation, Lucifer will lead the kings and armies of Earth to make war on Jesus, but Jesus will destroy them. Finally, at the end of the 1,000 years, Lucifer will lead a numberless multitude against New Jerusalem, but fire will come down from God, out of Heaven, and burn them up.
A day is coming when Satan will make his last stand and Jesus will rise up and annihilate the devil and all who are like him. Yet, there is one final victory that I am sure Jesus is anxious to complete – to destroy death itself. When Jesus destroys the curse of sin, death will no longer exist in God’s universe. Finally, God’s house will be free of the cancer of sin.
“Then the end [of sin’s drama] will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all [earthly] dominion, authority and power. For he [Jesus] must reign [as Sovereign God] until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he [the Father] ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him [Jesus], it is clear that this does not include God [the Father] himself, who put everything under Christ. When he [Jesus] has done this [that is, destroyed death itself], then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God [the Father] may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)
Most people do not realize that the final victory of Jesus has a surprise ending. Instead of remaining on the throne of God and basking forever in the glory of His incredible accomplishments, Jesus will become a subject (a son) of God all over again because His greatest joy is living among those He has created. What humility. What kindness and compassion. What love. And here I go again, having no words to adequately describe our Savior and friend, Jesus. (shred of my journal)
No comments:
Post a Comment