KEEP LOOKING UP!

KEEP LOOKING UP!

Just like us, Jesus’ disciples were interested in what the future would be like before His return and what signs we should be aware of!

SCRIPTURE:  LUKE 24:28

Jesus said: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

He listed several events that would be signs before His return such as:

-Wars and rumors of wars

-Nations rising against nation

-Kingdom against kingdom

-Pestilences (plagues and epidemics)

-Famines and earthquakes in various places

-Persecutions

-Offenses, betrayal and hate

You might be thinking:  Wow, how can you look up and lift up your head in circumstances such as these when the normal stance would be to hang your head in dismay at all these things coming on the earth!

Jesus always has a plan!  That is why He said, “When you see these things begin happening, know that your redemption draws near.” 

Redemption designates deliverance through Christ from evil. 

Although these things are happening all around us, He wanted us to keep our focus on His Kingdom and purposes.

The Apostle Paul said it like this:  Colossians 3:2. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

This is not to put our heads in the sand but setting our mind on things above rather than earthly things puts us in tune with eternal reality.  Then, with the mind of Christ, we can understand more accurately what is going on around us. (Tozer Devotional)

Jesus furthermore said in Matthew 24:12-14, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold but he who endures to the end shall be saved, and this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached IN ALL THE WORLD as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.”

Jesus linked the worldwide witness of the gospel to His coming.  He said, “THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED IN ALL THE WORLD.”

With the worldwide web and satellites broadcasting events in real time throughout the world by way of computers, phones, TV’s etc., Jesus knew at this time in history, the entire world would have the opportunity to hear and see the Good News of His paying for their redemption so that they would have the opportunity to make the choice to follow Him by accepting Him into their lives as their  personal Savior. 

Isaiah 60: 1-2 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

In the midst of all the turbulence in the world right now and the horrific pictures around the world that we see constantly, God is desiring men’s hearts to turn to His light through the preaching of the gospel.   His promise is that He will cause His light to shine through those proclaiming the gospel.

Daniel 12:3 expresses God’s heart so beautifully: “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament.  And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”

What a promise!  As we proclaim the Good News about Jesus and what He means to us and, as we assist those with our giving who are evangelizing, preaching, and teaching the Good News through churches and the Media in all of its forms, we are joining with them in “making people wise concerning Him and turning many to righteousness!”   

Not only that, but when God prompts us to give to those in need, the Bible says in Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them.” 

In these times we are living in, the Bible says, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us….” 2 Cor. 5:20

Sure, is great to be on God’s team!

The word, gospel, in Greek means:  good news, to speak a message of gladness and of victory and to proclaim a message that brings joy!

The gospel we are to proclaim, and experience is the kingdom message of love, grace, forgiveness and provision through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We, as born-again believers, have been given the ministry of sharing what He has done and is doing in our lives and the blessed hope of our future in Heaven with God for eternity.

 As we do this, we pray and believe that those who hear the message will have “ears to hear” and will experience Christ as well!  It is important to be mindful that once the “seeds” are planted, God may send another laborer into their path to water the “seeds” and, of course, we know He brings in the harvest!

As the love in the world grows cold, as Jesus said it would, people will be looking for something, which we know is Someone, Jesus, that they can look to for help and comfort in these times.  Not only does God want people to experience His comfort, provision and health, He does not want His children just getting by and existing.  Ephesians 5:27 says “He is coming for a glorious church…!”

Do you know what glorious means in the Greek language it was written in?  It means brilliant, bright, radiant and renowned! 

As we grow in faith and knowledge of His Words and who we are in Christ, we can become that glorious church that represents Him on earth and that He is coming back for! 

The disciple, John, that was consistently declaring that he was the disciple that Jesus loved, also said to believers:

 3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in ALL things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” NKJ

You see, John knew how much Jesus loved him and gave himself for him and he expressed his desire in this Scripture for everyone to have that same experience.  Should we not have the same proclamation that “We are the ones that Jesus loves?”

When we know how much we are loved by the Lord, it prompts us to  reach out in love to those that are not always lovable to show the same grace that we have experienced so through this they would potentially turn to the Lord and be saved and enjoy the life Jesus paid for them to experience.

According to John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

It is important to notice the word “may” in this Scripture.  Jesus words are to be received so that His heart behind the words spoken become our reality!

This Scripture enlightens us as well to know that the chaos in the world does not come from Him although He is often blamed as the perpetrator.  Jesus’ own words brings this truth to light!

Also, the word prosper in 3 John 1:2 means “to have success on your journey.”  The more we understand the “gospel of the kingdom” and walk in the knowledge of the truth that the God of the universe came to live inside of us, this faith not only pleases Him but brings us soul prosperity so that we can experience “life abundant” in our daily lives as Jesus spoke about even in the midst of the turmoil that is all around us.

Even though there are situations that may seem for now as though we are not prospering, Romans 8:37 clearly tells us: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

I was always puzzled by what “more than conquerors” actually meant and after some in depth study I found it meant, “He causes us to PREVAIL through Him.…WHO LOVED US.”  As mentioned before, it is big on God’s heart and His servant, John, that we also realize how much He loves us!

One of my favorite Scriptures and what I call a Power Prayer is Ephesians 3:17-19.  Let’s look at what Paul is praying: “I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.  And I pray you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.  Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray you will be able to know that love.  Then you can be filled with the fullness of God!”

Can you imagine what “being filled with the fullness of God” would be like?  Yet, Paul was prompted by the Holy Spirit to focus on the fact that there is not one dimension of our lives that God doesn't want His love to be manifested in!

For many who have not been fortunate to have felt or experienced real love in the past, this is a revelation that has to be internalized by faith and by doing as John did, and as mentioned before, make it your daily testimony to yourself:  “I,……, am the one that Christ loves!” 

     

One of my favorite Bible teachers that use to work with the “Think Tank” and the Pentagon on artificial intelligence said that each morning she would get up and look into the mirror and point to herself and say:  “You have the fullness of God living in you.”  Her ministry over the years has been one of experiencing signs, wonders, and miracles!

I believe we would all like to experience that because that is exactly what Paul prayed, we would experience when we become aware of the fullness of His love!  It sure is something important to focus our faith on each day!

Taking all these things into consideration, it helps us to understand why Jesus said: “Look up and lift up your heads, your redemption draws near.” 

Staying aware of His great love for you in these times as well as  keeping His promises in 3 John 1:2 and John 10:10 in focus, is very important because they are as much alive TODAY and as real TODAY as they were when they were spoken!

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

THROUGH CHRIST YOU ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS! 

KEEP LOOKING UP!

AMEN!