Coffee With The Lord

My “Coffee with the Lord” post this Christmas! Look at the pic… read the verse and reflect on the significance it! My response? WOW!!! Thank you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!!! (Also check out John 1:1-17)

This morning I read a very encouraging passage of Scripture (and I think you may be surprised that I found it encouraging)! 

This morning a read Revelation 17 that speaks of “Babylon” or “the great prostitute that sits on many waters” at the end of time.  Leon Morris, in his commentary identifies this imagery as “humanity in organized opposition to God.” This chapter describes the incredible evil and the terrible persecution against God’s people unleashed at the end of time (“In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality… she was drunk – drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses of Jesus.” Vss. 7-10).  As I read this chapter I could only imagine how wicked human culture will become in the future and how vicious persecution will become before Jesus returns!  Not a pretty picture!

But then I read these encouraging words… “GOD HAS PUT A PLAN INTO THEIR MINDS – A PLAN THAT WILL CARRY OUT HIS PURPOSES… AND SO THE WORD OF GOD WILL BE FULFILLED!” (vs. 17).  Although this verse predicts escalating evil at the end of time and increasing persecution, NOTHING that happens will be outside of God’s control…  NOTHING!!  Ultimately God’s plan and purposes will be fulfilled!!  The world may seem to be spinning out of control!  Culture may be in decay!  Evil may seem to be escalating and winning the battle for human hearts.  Righteous people may increasingly be the object of derision and persecution.  All may seem hopeless… BUT GOD IS IN CONTROL!!  In the end He will make the very “wrath of man to praise Him!” (Psalm 76.7-10)

So, at this Christmas season the words of this old carol come to mind…

 I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day :

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
of peace on earth goodwill to men

I thought how as the day had come
the belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along unbroken song
of peace on earth goodwill to men

I can hear your voice, I can hear your voice
like the bells on Christmas Day.

And in despair I bowed my head
“there is no peace on earth” I said
For hate is strong that mocks the song
of peace on earth goodwill to men

(Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
with peace on earth goodwill to men)

Till ringin’ singin’ on its way
the world revolve from night to day
A voice a chime a chant sublime
of peace on earth goodwill to men

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
with peace on earth goodwill to men

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
of peace on earth goodwill to men

I thought how as the day had come
the belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along unbroken song
of peace on earth goodwill to men

I can hear your voice, I can hear your voice
like the bells on Christmas Day.

And in despair I bowed my head
“there is no peace on earth” I said
For hate is strong that mocks the song
of peace on earth goodwill to men

(Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
with peace on earth goodwill to men)

Music by John Baptiste Calkin, Johnny Marks, and others… Adapted from a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1863)

“O Come Let Us Adore Him!” … It was a song then > now > and on Into eternity

It’s clear to me from reading the Bible that God’s purpose in sending Christ to earth was redemptive (not simply exemplary). His plan from “day one” (i.e. the Nativity) and even before (eternity) was to rescue people from every nation and race from their sin, transform them and prepare them for eternity in fellowship with Him (eternity in heaven)! So when I read these words from the book of Revelation this morning my heart leaped with joy… God’s purpose and plan will one day be fulfilled!!

“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar… ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshipped God. They sang… ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!’ (From Revelation 7:9-12)

What a scene! It was wonderful at the Nativity, and it will be awe-inspiring to experience it in eternity! It will bring to fulfillment the wonderful redemptive plan of our Heavenly Father through His son Jesus to fulfillment!

That doesn’t mean, however, that achieving this wonderful goal will be easy! In fact, it cost Jesus His life on our behalf! It won’t be easy for those who are counted worthy to make up that worshipping throng either… When the question was asked “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” This is the answer that was provided… “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and have made them white.” Salvation is the free gift of God offered through faith in Jesus Christ! That doesn’t mean however, that following Him won’t be costly. It always has been! But regardless of the cost, I want to be a part of that throng!!