AMEN!

“He who testifies about these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.”  (Revelation 22:20-21 HCSB)

We punctuate our prayers with it.  When the congregation says it during the sermon, it is like saying “Sic ‘em!” to a bulldog, and I preach all the more fervently.  It is a word that signifies we have understood the message and now promise to apply the truth.  It is the word, “Amen!”  Literally it means, “so be it,” and it is how God concludes His Word, and so, I can think of no more fitting way to end these devotionals.

Amen!  God has revealed His will for us, and now we are to submit to it moment by moment, day by day.  Some day, the “Amen” of consummation will be pronounced—and all we read in this final section of Revelation will occur—God will make it so.

We got on board the Bible bus in January with creation and now after a year’s journey through the Bible, in chronological sequence, arrive at the new creation.  The original heavens and earth were made, “Good,” but then marred by sin.  Yet, the promise is of the reverse of the curse, and the fashioning of new heavens and earth.  Amen!

I heard of a fellow who overslept, and came rushing into worship service near the conclusion, asking the usher, “Is the sermon done?”  The wise old usher replied, “No—it’s got to be done.”  We aren’t done with what we have learned this year until we are done living it out day by day—and that is a lifetime.

Maybe you have never read through the Bible before, and this has been your inaugural trip.  Don’t let it be your last!  I have read through the Bible many times, and never fail to profit from it, and discover fresh insight, as well as continually being challenged to a new level of faith and obedience.

Perhaps you have read your Bible through several times, but have not read it chronologically.  I had never done that, and I must say it gave a new perspective that was helpful.

Some of you tried, and didn’t quite get it all read, but wouldn’t you agree that the portions you did process have been beneficial to your walk with God?  I commend you for the effort.  Try again!  Other have done it; you can too.

For six days a week, fifty two weeks straight, I have spent hours each day getting out these daily devotionals.  I will not say that has been easy—in fact, some days it was exhausting, but I found that each time I came to the spring, there was always abundant water to draw from.  To God be the glory!

I would like to thank my wife and family also.  Even on vacation, “days off” or holidays, they have been good to allow me the time to sit at my computer and churn out these messages.  Thanks for your patience!

I am also grateful to our church family for I am sure there were some areas of ministry that might not have gotten as thorough attention as they deserved, while I focused on this effort.  It is my prayer that you reaped spiritual benefit from these truths, and that even though I might not have spent as much time with you personally, that each day I came to you through this medium with a word to enrich you.

Then, I should say a special word of thanks to my Administrative Assistant Sharon Brown.  Along with occasional help from other church secretaries, Debbie Rogers and Monica Young—whom I appreciate also—Sharon has sent these out to you via our church email system as regularly as I have prepared them, plus provided some paper copies for those without email.  So give them thanks, and I want Sharon and the others to know that I couldn’t have done it without you!  They deserve a pat on the back—so please commend them if you have benefited from this.

Let me add appreciation to the Sunday School teachers who moved out of their comfort zone to lead their class in a follow-up discussion on the Scripture reading for the week.  This required you to prepare for teaching every day as you read through the Scripture and then to direct your class on Sunday morning.  Your cooperative spirit and commitment has not gone unnoticed!

Although this will be the last installment in this series, I trust that in other ways and times, I will share God’s Word with you—like tomorrow’s sermon for example!  Plan on being there!

I plan to be—but, the reality is I might not be.  I am not trying to be morbid, but the reality is that sooner or later the last words I share with you will be my final words to you.  I am looking for Jesus to come—praying it’s soon!  If He delays, it is only a matter of time before I go to meet Him when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death and into the light of eternity.

So, what better way to conclude these devotional meditations than the way the Bible does?  These last chapters set before us the end of all of our journeys—a destination eternally to the horror of hell or the happiness of heaven.  Each one reading these words will spend the endless ages in the lake of fire or the city of God.  Our company will be sinners and fallen angels or saints and holy angels.  We will never know the presence of God or bask in His presence forever.  Every human who has ever lived will be in a place of torment without even a drop of water to soothe us or in a place of triumph where a crystal clear river flows from the throne of God and satisfies us fully.  In the end, we will be in an environment of weeping or where God wipes away all tears and crying is no more.  Howls of anguish or hallelujahs of adoration will fill the air.

How is it with your soul?  Have your met Jesus personally?  Is the grace of the Lord Jesus with you?  Can you look forward to seeing Jesus?

I pray that we all have heard the Gospel invitation that I have given repeatedly this years, as I have for thirty five years of ministry, and which I share once again.  “Both the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’  Anyone who hears should say, ‘Come! ‘ And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.”

Take it. Drink it.  As Jesus offered it to a sinful woman at Jacob’s well, so He offers living water to all sinners.  The invitation is to you: “Come!”

Amen?

Amen!