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4th November 2024
MondayReflection
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'Jonathan Homesley'
'I've pastored Lake Wylie Baptist since
May of 2016'
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"The Lamb, who is in the centre of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
..... Revelation 7:17
The passage we are studying today reminds us that one day when Jesus returns, all those who are found in him will find a true rest - not simply from the toil of work in this age, they will find a rest from sin, from physical sickness, from mental and emotional strain, from broken relationships.
And in Revelation 7, notice who John sees standing before the throne.
A great multitude, that no one could number.
There are thousands that we'll never know - right now - labouring for the sake of Christ.
Well, this great multitude, what are they doing?
Standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
If you think back to the end of Revelation 6, when God's final day of judgment was being unleashed on the earth - that judgment ended with a question:
"Who can stand?"
The answer, of course, is the Saints of God.
God has protected them and delivered them through the tribulation and tumult of this age.
I love how John Bunyan describes the Celestial City in his book Pilgrim's Progress.
If you've never read it, you should make it a goal to read that book.
Now just as the gates were opened to let the men in, I looked in after them - and, behold, the City shone like the sun!
The streets also were paved with gold, and on them walked many men, with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises with!
There were also some angelic beings with wings, and they sang back and forth
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
(Rev. 7:14)
He calls us to repent of our sins and believe in what Jesus has done.
And if we believe in Jesus we are born again, into a new eternal life from God.
If you are going to follow Jesus Christ faithfully, you should not expect it to go smoothly.
Rather, your expectation should be tribulation.
The Greek word is 'thlipsis', is translated elsewhere as trouble that inflicts distress, oppression, and affliction.
Contrary to what the TV preachers say, when you become a Christian ... when you begin living life by faith in Christ, your problems don't evaporate.
We don't live by the power of positive thinking.
We don't manifest or speak our future into existence.
There's a big theological word we use to describe all of that: hogwash.
No, the book of Revelation shows us that you absolutely cannot be living your best life now.
If you are living your best life now, then you're on your way to hell.
I love the life God has given me. I love the people he has given me.
The home he has given me.
But I thank God that this isn't my best life.
Revelation 7:15 tells us that, for the Christian, their best life is yet to come.
● In that age, we will stand before the throne of God.
● No more distance between us because of our sin.
● In that age, the one on the throne will "shelter [us] with his presence."
● God's nearness will become the walls and the roof of our life.
● In that age, you "shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike you, nor any scorching heat."
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● It's not that the threats of suffering will be there but you'll have sufficient resources to mitigate against them.
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● In that age, when Christ renews all things, there won't even be the threat of hunger.
● Look at verse 17. It's become one of my favourite verses in Scripture:
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● For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd."
● In that age, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
● Revelation 7 says that if you belong to Christ Jesus, every wound will be healed.
Earth has no sorrow that Christ will not heal.
Every loss will be made up for, in one long eternal dawn.
So, until that day comes, continue to faithfully pursue Christ this day.
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
'Welcome to the site. My name is Jonathan '
and this site primarily hosts written and audio content I produce in my pastoral ministry at Lake Wylie Baptist Church.
I'm married to Chelsea and we have 4 children: Olivia, Lincoln, Madeline, and Emma.
I've pastored Lake Wylie Baptist since May of 2016.
I'm a graduate of The College at Southeastern as well as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
I pray the site is a blessing to you.
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