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This morning I caught a huge turtle for the kids in a neighbor’s yard. Now, it is positively surrounded by five kids and a puppy and surprise, surprise, it won’t stick its head out of its shell for anything. It would help if Little Man would leave it alone, but of course, he can’t. After all, it is a dream come true!
It occurs to me as I watch the children watch the turtle that turtles are much more patient than children. Oh, it is hard to wait for something so wonderful.
All children of God are waiting for something wonderful, and some of us are even waiting eagerly. Philipians 3:20 says, “We also eagerly wait for the Savior.”
Sometimes though, we get so bogged down in the battle that we are lulled into a fatalistic stupor, forgetting that though the journey is often hard, we are already victorious.
The Savior is returning! The day and the time for the trumpet’s blast calling the Redeemed home is set, and none can delay its sounding. We are promised a new Heaven, a new Earth, and the absolute redemption of our fallen, broken, wounded flesh.
Every tear will be wiped away.
It is certainly something worth our eager anticipation; a promise so precious that it makes even the most sorrowful day sweeter.
“Father,
Thank you for the sure promise of your return. With Believers from every corner of the globe I pray: ‘Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!” Amen
Sorrow and violence. Trauma and brokeness. These are the hallmarks of a creation that is suffering from an absence of the knowledge of God. Christ himself warned, “in this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33a) and yet, God breathed Scripture also commands us to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” (Phillipians 4:4) These words falling on the ears of frail, mortal flesh at first seem irreconcilable. How does the child of God live a life defined by joy in seasons of suffering and sorrow?
We must seek not only deliverance but the knowledge of the Lord in our trials. We must pray not only, “God save me!” but also, “Lord, let me know you here.” When God reveals himself to us in our dark hour, praise will burst forth from our hearts. In that moment, we will be filled with joy because we will be centered upon our most fundamental purpose: to know God and offer praise to His name.
When He reveals Himself to us, we can not help but fall in love with Him more deeply. He is mighty, awesome, and holy but He is also tender, compassionate, and sweet.
“Father,
Draw me near today. Give me ears for your voice. Reveal yourself to me in this place and I wll cry with the cherebium, “Holy! Holy! Holy!” Amen”
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3
“They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9
Every violent and destructive force, every aberration of nature, all sickness, disease and trauma, wars, famines, slavery, abuse, torture, racism, rage, murder, malice, impatience, cruelty, gossip, hate…. all are because when Eden fell, the earth suffered from an absence of the knowledge of the Lord. That rending apart of the Maker and all He had made struck a fatal blow to creation, for to know Him was why we all were created.
Where once the knowledge of the Holy was as natural as heartbeat and breath, there now resides a deep and devastating brokenness which necessitates a deliberate determination to know God. Now, we must choose to know Him and it is a knowledge that comes at a price, for the spirit can not hear His voice until the flesh is slain. (Galatians 5:24)
“Father,
May my flesh die today so that what is eternal in me might breathe free and live. May I be filled with the knowledge of You, my Savior and my God.” Amen
