Coffee With The Lord

Reading the description of the end of the world as we know it in the Bible this morning (2 Peter 3.10-13) reminded me a little bit of scenes I’ve seen from a couple of older movies (“Independence Day” and “Apocalypse Now” – there may be more recent films that come to your mind).  Here is what the Bible says…

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare… That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in fervent heat.” (vss. 10, 12b)

What a contrast the other verses in this passage present…

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming…  in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells!  (vss. 11-12a, 13)

The Bible clearly teaches this old globe we live on is one day consigned to destruction!  The world I am looking forward to (and living for) is a “new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells!” (Check out Revelation 21-22 – Pretty awesome!!)  Gotta be ready… Gotta live ready!

That’s why I’m taking 1 John 2.15-17 seriously…

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

We can draw all kinds of wrong conclusions about the “delay” of our friends…  They don’t care about me anymore!  They forgot our appointment!  Something must have happened to them!  Something more important came up!  They’re like that – they procrastinate all the time! And there are others…

The Lord isn’t like that… Don’t second-guess why the Lord hasn’t returned yet as He promised!  His “delay” has a redemptive purpose!

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ … But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH, BUT EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE!” (2 Peter 3:3–9 NIV)

Don’t worry… don’t lose heart… don’t lose your expectation… HE’S COMING AGAIN!  His delay is redemptive!  His promise is sure!!

If you’re reading today’s post in “coffee with the Lord” you’re going to need to use your imagination… 

Go get your Bible and read Revelation 4 (it’s only 11 verses).  My suggestion?  Read a phrase or two, close your eyes and visually picture happening what you’ve just read…  You’ll be in the heavenly throne room… experiencing the sights and sounds… participating in the incredible worship taking place there!  I’ve done this with this passage over the years and it’s always been an uplifting, incredible, worship-inspiring experience for me… in fact, it leaves me feeling like I’ve just left the most incredible dramatic presentation and concert I’ve ever experienced in my life, just blown away, with nothing to say but “WOW”!!  Try it!

The passage ends like this… “Day after day and night after night (the living creatures) keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, Almighty – the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come!’  And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne.  They lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power!  For You created all things and they exist because You created what You pleased.’” (Revelation 4.8-11 NLT)

The story goes, that this was the very passage that Handel was working with when he wrote his great oratorio, the Messiah with the “Hallelujah Chorus.”  The story is, he locked himself in his studio to finish it, but came out after working with this passage in the Bible with his eyes ablaze and exclaimed… “ME THINKS I DID SEE THE HOLY GOD AND ALL OF HIS ANGELS WITH HIM!”  My sentiments exactly!!