Today is Good Friday and it starts off Easter weekend for many of us believers. However, I want to encourage you to look beyond the cruelty of cross. Never forget the supreme sacrifice that was paid for our debts there by the precious blood of Jesus! Thank You Jesus for dying for our sins and raising again to give us eternal life. But, I want us to look at our future and what God has in mind for us when our time on earth is no more.
One of my favorite verses to read is in Isaiah. It's a beautiful picture of the way the Lord promises to take away the pain of death and nullify it forever. We will not cry anymore because there will be no sorrow, no goodbyes, no death, no sickness, and no suffering. That is very special to me! Are you waiting for Him? Are you waiting for Him to wipe away your tears and save you? I know I am!!
Isaiah 25:8-9
He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
I used to be afraid to read Revelations. I was scared of it. I didn't understand it. I would just not even go there! Some ministers had scared me at an early age and I was just too terrified to read it, but then I had someone open up the scriptures to me in a much different way and I am so glad. Turn to the last book of the Bible and take comfort in knowing that in the end God wins! Spoiler alert!! God's people are redeemed and what beautiful promises we are given here.
Revelations 7:11-17
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
I love how this illustrates the Church, God's elect, chosen to be a part of this wonderful new beginning that will never end. We are His Bride and look at the promise of no sorrow, all the old things are gone. The trials and tribulations of this life just melt away. They are gone and there is only joy beyond comprehension! I am so eager to go!
Revelation 21:1-4
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Finally, the last part of the Bible, it gives us this glorious good news! If reading this doesn't make you shout for joy, nothing will! This is wonderful!! We are safe. We are home! We made it. There is no need to be shut in the city of God because nothing vile, evil, or sinful can ever enter in! We are finally free!!
Revelation 21:23-27
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? If not, there is still time. Just call out to Him. Acknowledge that you are a sinner who needs saving and He will do it! He will save you and you will never be the same. Don't miss heaven for the world!!
God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
