OUR ETERNAL HOME

Where is home?  Now, you may answer that by giving me an address where you live. In some cases, you might describe the place where you grew up. But, as a child of God, your real home is heaven—the New Jerusalem—our eternal home.  

Abraham got it, and so we read this:

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭8-10, 13‬-‭16‬‬ NKJV).

John describes that heavenly city in Revelation 21.

It is a place of NO SIN. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” The old creation has been soiled by sin: heaven defiled by the devil and earth tainted by the transgression of man. Yet, God will dissolve the old creation and make a pure environment. Heaven is marked by holiness—as a virgin bride dressed in white—devoted fully to God. “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:1a, 2).  Only the righteous will live there, while the wicked will have been excluded and forever are in the lake of fire, (v. 7-8). 

It is a place of NO SEPARATION. The Apostle notes, “there was no more sea,” (v. 1b).  Remember that John was exiled on the prison island of Patmos—surrounded by the storm-tossed seas.  Those waves continually reminded him of his separation from those he loved. Sin separates us from God and each other. But, in our eternal home, there will be no sin and therefore, no separation! “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ “ (v. 3). 

It is a place of NO SORROW. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying,” (v. 4a). Death has come to the old creation as a consequence of sin. Our tears flow as we stand in a graveyard and say farewell to a loved one who has been snatched from us by the cruel hand of death. Yet, our hope is that one day the hand of God will reach over and wipe our tears away. Heaven will be a place of absolute happiness. What a day that will be!

It is a place of NO SUFFERING. “There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away,” (v. 4b). We must admit that in this world we can come to a place where we welcome death. Our sickness and suffering can be so intense, that as children of God, we may even pray for the Lord to take us home. No earthly doctor may have a cure, but the Great Physician will make us whole! We will get a new body that will not be subject to sickness!  

Here is the promise of God, “Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ ” (v. 5). There is a zoning ordinance in the New Jerusalem. You cannot construct a doctor’s office. You cannot erect a hospital. You cannot build a funeral home. No graveyards will be permitted. No tombstones will be set on the green hills of glory!

John goes on to describe the New Jerusalem’s illumination, (v. 9-11). It will be alight with the glory of God. There is its invitation, (v. 12-13).  The gates are wide open for there is nothing to fear. We read of its foundation, (v. 14). Twelve pillars bearing the names of the twelve apostles—a faith they delivered to us that cannot be shaken. Further, we have its construction, (v. 15-21). The measurements presented are enormous and the materials provided are extravagant. John also writes of its consecration, (v. 22-27). God Almighty and the Lamb are perpetually worshipped.

I am longing for home!

YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD!

God alone is worthy of our praise. Heaven abounds with His worship. He is the Creator of all and the existence of all creation is not only by Him, but for Him. The Lord is the originator of all things and the object of all thanksgiving.

God alone is worthy to receive GLORY. Glory is the very essence of His being and the vocal expression of our blessing of Him. He is altogether glorious.

God alone is worthy to receive HONOR. He is the Most High and merits our highest praise. He is above all. 

God alone is worthy to receive POWER. Omnipotence is the theological term. God is all-powerful, for so the word means. He is the Almighty.

Our worship will be the order of eternity. So, on earth we are to rehearse for that heavenly chorus that we will join someday!  I pray that you reflect on God’s glory, honor, and power today, then on the Lord’s Day assemble with God’s people in His house to give Him the worship He desires and deserves. Thus, you will get a foretaste of Heaven!

EVERY PRAISE FROM EVERY PERSON IN EVERY PLACE

 

God desires and deserves every praise from every person in every place. This is the repeated refrain of Psalm 67. “Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” That concludes two stanzas, and in summation, “Let all the ends of the earth fear him!”

We praise God for HIS REDEMPTION FOR ALL PEOPLE (v.1-3). The chosen people plead for God’s grace and blessing in order to extend it to all nations. They want to experience God’s shining presence among the Jews that they might express God’s saving power among the Gentiles. God did not choose Israel to the exclusion of the others, but to be the means of inclusion.  In this dispensation, the church is God’s missionary force. We declare His redeeming grace as available to all men everywhere. Jesus paid the price at Calvary, and God is glorified when people receive that forgiveness by faith.

We praise God for HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR ALL PEOPLE (v.4-5). We rejoice in redemption because it is desperately needed by all people as none of us can meet God’s righteous standard and thus face judgment. God will judge everyone with equity. The perfect righteousness of Christ must be ours or we will experience the wrath our sins merit.  So the question, “Will God judge those who have never heard the Gospel?”  The answer of the book of Romans is that all are without excuse, as everyone has some knowledge of God. The problem is that sinners reject that light and turn to darkness. The question for those who have heard is why have we not told everyone everywhere?  “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Rom.‬ ‭10:14-15‬‬). 

We praise God for HIS RICHES FOR ALL PEOPLE (v.6-7). The rains that water the fields of the just also produce crops for the unjust. The Lord gives a witness to His grace in the bounty of His blessings, leaving men without excuse if they do not turn to Him (cf. Rom.2:1-3). “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4).  The harvest from seed in earth is meant to yield a harvest of souls for eternity!

God’s people are to explain this and call all mankind to fear God. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Rev. 7:9-10‬‬)

SHOW US YOUR GLORY!

The deepest longing of the human heart is for God.  There is a hole in our soul.  Sadly, because of our depraved nature, we try to fill that void with false gods—possessions, pleasures, power. We make our own deities and devise religious systems that appeal to our ego. It is like trying to satisfy your thirst by drinking water from the ocean.  The more you take in, the thirstier you become.

Moses expresses that heart cry properly, “Please, show me Your glory.” (Ex.33:18). It was a response issuing from grace, as God said, “you have found grace in My sight,” and rooted in a relationship with God, “and I know you by name.” (v.17b).

God, in His sovereignty had extended grace,  “Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’” (v.19‬). That we are undeserving of such grace is what makes grace so amazingly gracious!  You don’t earn it; God gives it.  It isn’t based on who we are, but Who He is.

We can have “a foretaste of glory divine,” as the old hymn, “Blessed Assurance”, puts it.  While Moses could not look into God’s face and live, He was permitted an experience that would make his face radiant (read 33:20-23; 34:33-35), an experience He could renew before God.  So may we!

All this, will be consummated in Heaven.  We will have a new body that will enable us to look into the face of God.  Until then, our heart cries, “Please, show me Your glory.”  May we encounter the Eternal One as we meet with the saints for worship tomorrow!

THE SON OF GOD

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Jesus is the Godman—not half God and half man, but fully God and fully man—just as much man as if He were not God and just as much God as if He were not man.  He is the Only Begotten Son, Jesus the One and Only.  Matthew begins with His genealogy and stresses His royalty as the Son of David; Mark begins with His ministry and underscores His activity as the Servant of Jehovah; Luke begins with His nativity and emphasizes His humanity as the Son of Man.  John takes us back into eternity and stresses His deity as the Son of God.  John has three expressions He uses repeatedly in His writings: life, light and love.  Each one of these are characteristic of the Son of God. 

So we see Christ’s DIVINE LIFE.  In John 1:14, the aged Apostle John declares, “We beheld His glory….”  Christ Himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  (11:25a)  In chapters 1-12 of John’s Gospel, we find this emphasis.  When the beginning began, Christ already was the Eternal Son—without beginning or ending.  John calls Him, “The Word.”  Words are how we communicate.  When God was ready to speak fully and finally to the world, He communicated through the living Word, Jesus—the Word made flesh.  Jesus not only made the claim, He manifested the credentials.  Seven “signs,” are featured in this book.  John didn’t claim to record all His miracles, but seven were selected and are called signs that demonstrate His Deity.

In John’s Gospel we also witness Christ’s DIVINE LIGHT.  John told us that “we beheld His glory….” Glory is the radiance of God—His Divine light outshining.  He said, “I am the light of the world.”  (9:5)  There are many mysteries of the Kingdom of God—hidden truths that Jesus came to reveal as the light of His teaching shone upon the disciples and He does in chapters 13-17.  When Jesus wanted to teach His disciples the essence of service, He didn’t just say it, He showed it, as He took a towel, girded Himself, and washed the disciple’s feet.  When they left the upper room He taught them about abiding in His life and love as a branch abides in the vine and bears fruit.  There are lessons about the Holy Spirit and a holy life.  He teaches them about the importance of prayer and unity as God’s children. 

John’s Gospel culminates in chapters 18-21 with Christ’s DIVINE LOVE.  John said that His glory was “that of the only begotten of the Father….”  To see Him was to see the Father.  God is love and therefore Christ is love incarnate.  He stated, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  (15:13)  It was love that brought Him from eternity to earth on a mission to save sinners.  We see Him nailed to a cross to pay the price for our sins.  But, Eternal Love cannot be sealed in a tomb!  Christ in His resurrection glory appears to Mary, to ten of His disciples, and then to Thomas who had his doubts.  Those doubts were overcome!  Later, Jesus eats with the eleven and restores Simon Peter who had denied Him.  As Jesus was sent to seek the lost lambs, so He sends His disciples today on a mission of love.

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING HIS PRAISE?

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:

“I will sing to the LORD,

For He has triumphed gloriously!

The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”  (Exodus 15:1)

Singing plays an important role in Christian worship.  We are commanded in Ephesians 5:19 to be, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord….”  As we reflect on God’s glorious nature and recall His great works, then a song of praise and thanksgiving forms in our heart, and bursts from our lips.  That is what happened to Moses and the children of Israel.

We note THE THEME of the song (Ex.15:1-2a).  Moses directs us to consider who God is: our strength, our song and our salvation.  The Hebrews were hopeless to escape Egyptian slavery—it would require a miracle—and that is what God provided!  No wonder they broke forth into singing about the supernatural strength they had witnessed.  We serve this same mighty God!  He became their song—the source, substance and sum of their singing.  It is sad when so much “Christian” music today is about us—the style and substance focused on how it makes us feel, when God’s glory is what true worship is all about.  God saved the children of Israel from their wretched state, and Gospel songs declare the salvation we have experienced and offer it to those yet in sin’s shackles.

This leads us to hear THE TESTIMONY in the song (Ex.15:2b-12).  Their song was a passionate expression of witness to the Lord’s wonderful work.  How could they suppress this song?  It was as volcanic fire building up inside them that erupted with flowing words of praise.  If we have meditated on God’s attributes and contemplated God’s activity, then we also will bear testimony in song. We want the whole world to hear!  This is our God, worthy of praise!  He breaks the power of the enemy—“O victory in Jesus!”  How great and how good He is!  “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”  (Ex.15:11).

Fundamentally, we are to grasp THE TRUTH from the song (Ex.15:13-21).  I’m glad we don’t know the tempo—some would say it’s too fast or too slow.  Nor do we know the tune, and I’m glad, for some would say it’s pitched too high or too low.  All these arguments concerning classic or contemporary, hymns or choruses, using hymn books or video screens, playing organs or guitars have little significance compared to the main purpose of worship music—and that is to clearly communicate the truth of Scripture as to who God is, what He has done, and how we may relate to Him.  Doctrine is indelibly engraved on our heart when it is expressed lyrically.  I have heard old songs that ought to be put on the shelf and never sung again.  I have heard new songs that ought not be sung the first time.  There is not a thimble full of doctrine in them!  Truth has the power to stir us emotionally—Miriam and the women beat tambourines as they danced for joy!  Let us be swept away by the glory, greatness and goodness of God.  If we aren’t excited about Him, then how can we claim to know Him?  Heaven is filled with music.  Are you going?

IN THE VALLEY

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. (Matthew 17:14-18 NKJV)

You can't be on the mountaintop all the time.  Oh, it's wonderful when you are--the exhilaration of exceptional experience--one of those intimate encounters that gives you spiritual goosebumps.  We want to just camp out there.  Peter, James, and John had such a high.  They had witnessed a scene that made them want to stay.  Jesus shone brighter than the noonday sun.   What He was on the inside was manifested on the outside.  Moses and Elijah had shown up.  No surprise Peter popped off, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Matt.17:4)  To which God said (and I paraphrase) "Peter hush!  Listen to my Son!"  Peter's focus had migrated from Jesus to His witnesses--from the glory of His majesty and to the emotion of the moment.   We understand that don't we?  Thank God for the mountaintop moments, but they will not last on earth.  That awaits Eternity.

For the followers of Christ, there will be a lot of time spent in the valleys of life.  That is the sovereign choice of God for His disciples.  We must not resist it.  We must enter it and learn.  The mountaintops can teach us much, but lessons learned in the dark vales are vital also.

The valley is a place of pain.  It is there we encounter a father's anguish over his son.  That boy knew the torment from demonic assault.  It is an accurate depiction of living in this fallen world.  There is plenty of pain.

The valley is also a place of poverty.  This dad was hopeful of deliverance and so brought his boy to the disciples--who miserably failed!  Have you ever felt such hopelessness?  The church often promises far more than it delivers.  Admitting our own poverty is humbling--yet, preparatory for grace.  Being driven to your knees is precisely where we find power.  When the disciples later questioned Jesus as to why they had no authority, He responded that only fervent prayer can bring Kingdom authority into the valley of struggle.

So, ultimately, the valley is a place of provision.  Desperation drove the man to Jesus--and Christ drove out the malignant spirit.  We discover He is Lord of the valleys as well as the mountaintops, and that all is about His glory, and never our experience of it.  Whether in the rarified air of His manifest Presence or in a demonic stronghold where we discover His power to bring peace, everything is wrapped up in Jesus.  Is Jesus enough?  Can we be content with only Him?  Wherever you are--on mountaintop or valley--look, listen, learn and live for Him!

CHOSEN

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3-12)

To be chosen—someone selects us to be on their team, an employer calls to say we have been hired, we hear our name called to win a prize—being chosen is a wonderful feeling.  To be chosen by God—now that is an indescribable blessing!  Yet, it is true for all God’s children.

We are not His because we were randomly born into His family.  We are not an accident, but we have been adopted—chosen.  God has reached out to the abandoned and accepted us.  He has sought the loveless and bestowed His love.  It isn’t that we deserved such honor, for what He has done is to His honor.  While we were only fit for Hell, God has made us fit for Heaven!  That is the grace of God—amazing seems too feeble a word, but is perhaps the best we can do.  It is an astonishing adoption!

Our adoption, from our viewpoint, has happened when the Holy Spirit called us to Christ at a moment in time, but actually happened because we were already chosen in eternity.  The all-knowing God had His heart set on us long before we were born.  Before the first man was fashioned from clay and named Adam, God already knew my name, and had predestined me to be His son!  Two thousand years before I sinned against Him, the price was already paid by the Lamb of God for those sins.  Indeed, He is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.

God has a plan for your life—a purpose He will fulfill, and not all the power of Hell can thwart it for it is wrought be an all-powerful Being.  God is up to something—and it will be glorious!  That is the hope we have—steadfast and sure.  It is not a fantasy, but a reality, for that hope of glory rests in the finished work of Christ.  My life will bring Him glory—here and hereafter.  Someday all His chosen ones will stand before Him complete—trophies of His grace, objects of His love, subjects of His glory!

So, all this being true—and we have only scratched the surface—how should we live?  Being blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, we ought to think and behave as those who are children of the King!  His name that I bear ought to be honored by my life.  His image that has been imprinted on me, should be manifested by me.  Since He has a purpose for me, I should move with purpose.  My hope should be evident and lead others to inquire of the reason for it—and have a ready response to explain it!  I have been chosen in glory, for His glory and ought to lead others to give Him glory for His work in and through me.  What a destiny!  Let us live out that truth today. This is the Word of God—and may that Word be made flesh as I manifest His glory.

THE COMMITMENT CONFIRMING HOPE

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  ‎And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  ‎Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  ‎And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  ‎But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  ‎Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  (Luke 2:15-20)

Hope makes a difference!  Where there is genuine hope there is great impact.  That is seen in the commitment modeled by these shepherds who saw the coming of hope.

Think about THE BASIS OF COMMITMENT: FAITH as seen here, “So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’”  (v.15) 

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.   A celestial messenger had spoken and faith was inspired.  They didn’t debate or delay—they decided to believe.

This led to THE BEHAVIOR OF COMMITMENT: ACTION witnessed in their urgent response, “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (v.16) 

Their faith produced works.  True faith always does.  It is impossible to have faith, hope and love—this holy trinity of virtues and fail to be moved to action.  They had faith in the message, hope in the event, and love for the Lord which generated their eager response.

It ended in THE BLESSING OF COMMITMENT: WORSHIP unfolding thus, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  ‎And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  ‎But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  ‎Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”  (v.17-20) 

How could they be silent?  They praised God and proclaimed the Gospel!  So will we when we have hope!  A heart brim-full of hope overflows in joyous testimony.

If you want to glorify God—and that is the chief end of our existence—then bring your life into alignment with God’s will.  You do this by imitating these shepherds with hope that commits you to faith, obedience and worship.

THE CONFESSION CELEBRATING HOPE

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”   (Luke 2:9-14) 

God’s messengers are sent to flood the Judean hillside with the light of hope—and it would be shepherds who heard this celestial confession of Christ.

It was a confession of THE GLORIOUS PERSON (v.9-12). 

That such a lofty announcement would come to such a lowly assembly is incredible.  Shepherds were despised—they were dirty and smelled of sheep.  It was a job you didn’t want.  Yet such are the very ones who would be receptive.  A message of hope is most appreciated by the hopeless. 

The good news is about a glorious Person—a Savior, Christ the Lord.  As Savior, He is the Son of Man who came to give His life as a ransom.  As Christ, He is the Son of David who is rightful heir to David’s throne.  As Lord, He is the Son of God, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”  (John 1:14)

This confession was not only about the Glorious Person, but was in and of itself A GLORIOUS PROCLAMATION (v.13-14). 

It was all about giving God glory.  The glory of God is the chief end of all things.  It is preeminent.  The universe is moving to this ultimate goal of the glory of God.

When we give ourselves to His glory, we experience His peace. Sin is when we seek to give ourselves His glory—of being our own god.  God’s goodwill comes when we repent and submit to Him.  When we are elevating ourselves, we are assailing Him and are at war with God—and that is always a losing proposition.  But, when we bow to Him, and promote His glory, then we are a peace with God.