As I sat out on a patio last night looking up at the night sky, this song came to mind.
I fondly recall singing it in high school choir and it always comes to mind to when I gaze at creation.
[YouTube link]
Archives For November 30, 1999
OK, so it wasn’t today – but it could have been…
…it could be tomorrow, three weeks from tomorrow, or 1,000 years from next Thursday…
The truth is: no man will know. NO MAN.
Think about it, if someone were to figure out when Christ was returning, that would diminish God.
It would effectively mean that He was “figured out” – negating Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I want an unfathomable God. I need a God who is beyond my comprehension; yet, at the same time, approachable, kind, and all the many awesome characteristics that we know about Him through His Word and the other ways He reveals Himself to us.
SO what are we to do?
I really appreciate how Albert Mohler put it last week:
- “First, Christ specifically admonished his disciples [followers] not to claim such knowledge. [Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36]
- Second, the Bible does not contain hidden codes that we are to find and decipher. The Bible has been given to us in order that we might know the truth, and the truth is clearly revealed in its pages.
- Third, Christians are indeed to be looking for Christ to return and seeking to be found faithful when Christ comes. We are not to draw a line in history and set a date, but we are to be about the Father’s business, sharing the Gospel and living faithful Christian lives.”
So how will it happen?
“…in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:52
But, no man will know. NO MAN.
Would it be nice to know when Christ will return? Maybe it would.
But think about it – would we then be conditional worshipers? Would we project our obedience or frame our lives in the shadow of “The Date”?
Or, would we be better worshipers by bring continual glory to God as we worship Him each and every day that he gives us here on earth – living expectant, yet worshipful lives?
I’ll strive for the latter – stumbling all the way…
The belt buckle in the picture was my dad’s. I can remember him wearing it a lot. He lived an expectant and worshipful life. I keep it in our room to think about him. He’s already worshiping Christ perfectly in heaven.
I read this the other day:
Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing. — Jeremiah 10:23-24
…a bold prayer, in deed.
You may have seen these billboards or read about this…
Great post about this at Albert Mohler’s blog.
“In Hebrews 9:28, we are taught that Christ will come a second time “to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” That is the faithful Christian response to the New Testament teachings about Christ’s coming. The church is not to be arrogantly setting dates, but instead to be eagerly waiting for him. Of that we can be truly certain.” — Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr
Read the full post: The End is Near? The False Teaching of Harold Camping
What are your thoughts about this?
This verse punched me this morning:
He [Hezekiah] … broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.
2 Kings 18:4 (NIV)
wow, silly Israelites. (be honest, you know you’ve thought that when reading the Bible. We’d never do the stuff “they” do…)
Yet, how easy it is for us to misplace our worship…even when “good” things are involved.
We focus on a song, a place, a person, a building, a sermon, a feeling, a ministry, a cause, etc. and the way they impacted, made, or make us feel…
… instead of focusing on God.
We assign value to and worship our personal or church-created “bronze snakes” rather than our awesome, holy, and forever-worthy God.
MY REDEEMER LIVETH.
ANON.
“I Know that my Redeemer lives,”
What comfort that sweet sentence gives !
He lives ! He lives ! who once was dead :
He lives, my everlasting Head !
He lives, triumphant from the grave ;
He lives, eternally to save.
He lives, all glorious in the sky;
He lives, exalted there on high;
He lives, to bless me with his love;
He lives, to plead my cause above;
He lives, to upbind and make me whole ;
He lives, to calm my troubled soul.
Cross And Crown
ANON.
Jesus, our head, once crowned with thorns,
Is crowned with glory now;
Heaven’s royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.
Delight of all who dwell above,
The joy of saints below;
To us still manifest thy love,
That we its depths may know.
I shared John Mark McMillan’s “Death In His Grave” a few months ago during church – a song that has been a favorite since I first heard it.
Like many most all of his songs, McMillan’s “Death In His Grave” is a lyrical masterpiece that prompts reflection and leads in worship…
He recently posted the back-story and line-by-line commentary on this great song on his blog.
Carve a few minutes out today to listen to the song, read his post, and reflect on the amazing gift of God’s Son.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16 (NIV)
(clicking image directs to JMM’s blog)
DENNARR(dot)COM 