“Pushing Toward the Finish”


BIBLE READING: Revelation 14
                                                                                                                                           
                As John’s magnificent vision continues, we find on few occasions where a voice from Heaven specifically calls John to “Write this…”.  Every time I read those words my mind immediately goes back to my school days when the teacher would specifically tell us to write something down.  That meant she had something that was so important for us to know that we better write it down, because it would be useful to us later.  That could not be truer than with this occasion.  The words the voice from Heaven asked John to write are not only important for us to know, but they are words that will keep God’s people comforted, strengthened and motivated until He returns.  “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." " Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14:13). The word blessed means “fortunate, well off and happy”.  Although the early Christians did have a joy about them because they had been bought with the blood of Jesus, the word “fortunate” or “well off” was not something that they considered themselves to be.  In fact, they probably believed they were more of the opposite of these terms due to their persecution.  Yet, these words can reveal to them in their circumstance, as well as ours, a comfort in knowing that if I die in Jesus I certainly will be “fortunate” and “well off”.   Knowing that that impending “rest’ from their labors is coming, they are far more likely able to endure.  When runners are participating in a race, there usually seems to be a point in the race that they feel drained and exhausted;  Yet if they are able to see the finish line, their body produces adrenaline which gives them that boost they need to finish.  As Christians, that boost comes in knowing the rest is coming…we just have to keep pushing towards the finish. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

Resolutions: Draw closer to God through study of His word

BIBLE READING: John 14.7 Spend time alone with God’s Word.  Besides the spiritual growth we will gain from study, we will also come to know Him better.  Reading His word brings us in touch with Him.  Jesus tells us in John 14:7 – “If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also.”   Just studying the life of Jesus will help us to know God better.   In seeking God’s help, we can draw closer to Him through prayer, meditation, nature, and study.   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2  I Tim.4:13,15 - “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine… meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them.”   Regardless of our circumstances we can rely on God’s unchanging character.  God is good. God loves me. God is with me. God knows my problems. God cares. Romans 8:31(b) tells us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Make a resolution to slo...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more