Resurrection Day Repost

It's Good Friday and I'm headed off to a little prayer cabin in the woods for the next few days. I'm planning to quiet myself and spend most of the time letting Jesus do the talking... maybe I'll return on Resurrection Sunday with some fresh perspective?

This Sunday millions around the world will remember together the day Jesus conquered death and gave us hope for the Day when all death will be overturned. As I head out, I want to reflect again on the wonder of this very special day that is approaching. So, I'm reposting my Easter Sunday entry from last year - this truth never gets old and bears frequent repeating!

It's Easter morning and I suppose it shouldn't surprise you that I've got the resurrection on my mind. Truth be told, this morning I've been thinking that Easter has just recently become my favorite holiday (and that has nothing to do with chocolate!). I've always believed that Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead, but it's only recently that I have been wrestling through what the Bible says about the earth also being "raised" or restored to original perfection under the leadership of Jesus after His Second Coming... and that has changed a lot in my mind!

If you are like me, you may have often pictured heaven with lots of clouds, streets of gold, perpetual singing... but not really tangible... and honestly, a little boring when you think about being there for millions upon millions of years. But, consider the thought of heaven and earth becoming one and actually being able to work in and enjoy creation as it was always meant to be known, in a body that will never die. I'm not sure about you, but to me, that sounds like something to look forward to! I've recently reflected on much of this more fully in other blog posts, so dig deeper there and into the Word itself if you're raising that "she sounds nuts" eyebrow that I would have raised if I had read this a few years ago.

This Resurrection Sunday I want to leave you with a few Bible passages that ought to fill your heart with joy and hope and blow your mind if you take some time to ponder the implications:

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Philippians 3:20,21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body...

1 Corinthians 15:52 - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Hearing His Heartbeat

Tonight there was a resounding "YES!" within me as I reread these words written in 2002 by my dear friend and mentor, Nita Steiner.  I remember feeling a great big "amen" in my heart nine years ago when I first read this... and with every passing year since, I'm more and more certain it's true:

"No matter what the primary focus of God's call and destiny is for their lives, each one must learn to hear His heartbeat and move with Him, and this kind of partnership is only possible through a lifestyle of intimacy with Him.

The missions movement that is emerging today will be fueled by the love and affection of One Who endured the cross for the joy of having a Bride to rule and reign by His side forever. And that which will empower the Bride to endure the suffering necessary to gather in the final harvest from all nations will be her desire for the heavenly Bridegroom. May the grace and power of the Holy Spirit take us into the heart of God and back out to the nations with His fiery love!"

We Will Be Like Him...Kingdom of God (part 8)

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven [Jesus]." - 1 Corinthians 15:49

Few things overwhelm me with wonder like this topic. You and I were created to be fascinated, so take a moment to muse [to gaze meditatively or wonderingly] with me on the ultimate destiny of all lovers of Jesus: the coming resurrection of the body; a physical body within which Christians will dwell in the presence of God forever. Scripture tells us some of what will not be in the resurrection: no more sickness, no deterioration (gray hairs, wrinkles, stiff joints...), no death or pain... But what will be? Could it be that you and I will perpetually appear 33 years old and in pristine physical condition? The ESV Study Bible notes on 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 claim: 

"the Christian's resurrection body will be physically attractive beyond anything imaginable...  by spiritual body Paul does not mean an immaterial body but a body animated and empowered by the Holy Spirit."

What could it possibly look like to be "raised in glory"?

Daniel 12:2,3 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Will we have the ability to pass through walls, as it seems the resurrected Jesus did when He suddenly appeared among the disciples who were in a locked room?

And what about food? Will we actually need to eat, or just have the privilege of eating simply because it is pleasurable? Revelation 2:7 speaks of overcomers eating from the tree of life in the paradise of God, but will this actually be necessary for their sustenance? And, of course, there is the all-important question that has made for many amusing conversations with the guys who tease me for not appreciating meat: will we eat meat or be vegetarians?

I've often tried to picture the moments in which this will all take place... the sounds, the sights, the emotions, the physical feelings, and the mechanics behind it all. Will God use any of our original physical matter to form these glorified bodies? What will my heart feel the first moments I realize the culmination of the age has been accomplished and a whole new age which will never end has been ushered in... and I've been transformed?  

Matthew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Philippians 3:20,21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

What will it feel like to be completely and utterly without sin (this part really excites me!)? The ESV Study Bible notes on 1 John 3:2 speak of being "intellectually without falsehood or error, physically without weakness or imperfections, and filled continually with the Holy Spirit."

What will it be like to dwell in the presence of God forever?

2 Corinthians 4:14 ...we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. 

There are endless questions to ponder, most of which will remain unanswered until Jesus returns.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

What aspect of the resurrection most thrills your heart? What about the resurrection seems hardest for you to fathom?

1 Corinthians 2:9,10 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Oh the Wonder...

"I'm alive because an Eternal God dreamed of me before the world began.  He then formed a plan within Himself to be with me forever."  -- David Sliker

The Return of the King

When the King returns, He'll split the Mount of Olives in two - Zechariah 14:3-5

"Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal..."

Wondering and trembling at the thought...
As Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives to teach His disciples about the end of the age and His return (Mark 13) did He simultaneously feel the gravity of the awesome events foretold in Zechariah that would one day ensue upon this ridge that King David had also walked a thousand years before Jesus had (2 Samuel 15:30)?  Isn't it just like God to weave together dramatic events of desperation, destruction, redemption, and glory... all to unfold in a single location over the span of several millennia?

For thousands of years, devout Jews have hoped for a glorious king, a Messiah, to lead them victoriously to the fulfillment of the promises of God to turn their shame into praise and renown throughout the earth (Zephaniah 3:18-20 & Jeremiah 33).  Over the years, some 70,000 Jews have been buried on this ridge, believing that upon the return of the King foretold in Zechariah 14, those buried here would be among the first to be resurrected.

The next time you find yourself feeling the desire to be fascinated, instead of popping in a movie or picking up a written work of fiction, grab your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your mind and heart to "experience" the scenes that have unfolded on the Mount of Olives, and those that are still yet to come.  Let the Holy Spirit grip your heart with awe as you see how God has woven together so many significant moments in this one place... a nearly two mile long, olive tree dotted ridge which runs north to south just a half mile walk to the east of Jerusalem.

"Venture" to the Mount of Olives for an hour or two and take in the sights, sounds, and emotions of these events that have and will take place there:

• Luke 19:28-40 ~ Jesus' "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem before the crucifixion
• Luke 19:41-44 ~ Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (with elevation 100 feet higher than the city, the Mount of Olives offers a great view of the city and Temple)
• Luke 21:37-38 ~ Jesus lodges here before the Passover
• Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:26-42, & Luke 22:39-46 ~ Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives before His arrest
• Matthew 26:47-56 ~ Jesus' arrest
• Acts 1:6-12 ~ Jesus' ascension into heaven
• Zechariah 14 ~ The coming Day of the Lord

I'd love to actually travel to Israel someday and walk the dusty path leading up the Mount of Olives... to ponder these scenes and tell Jesus that I long for the day when He will return to that very place at the culmination of His amazing age-old story... when He'll come as a zealous warrior and split the mount in two to provide a way of escape for His beloved people in their time of greatest need.  Lord, we're awaiting the return of our victorious King who rescues and saves and will establish everlasting justice!

Comfort for God's People (Isaiah 40:1-5)
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Jesus: The Great Intercessor

Sometimes my prayers feel weak, and I'm tempted to think they go unheard or could be left unanswered.  In times like this my heart gains confidence and hope in knowing that Jesus is before the Father in the heavens... PRAYING FOR ME and for you.  Think of it.  Before the throne of God you have an advocate, a mediator, an intercessor who, as you present your requests to Him, presents them to the Father.  He takes up our cause... and the Father will not deny the prayers of His Son.  Take courage, Jesus is praying for YOU!

Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Luke 22:31,32 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

John 17:20-26 "I [Jesus] do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one... so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory... that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Sound of the Final Trumpet

My heart is exhilarated this morning as I study and pray in the Prayer Sanctuary! I woke up this morning remembering that today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Feast of Trumpets, and considered how in my own heart today I wanted to acknowledge longing for the sound of that trumpet and return of the King, Jesus Messiah. The musical prayer watch we're streaming in via the internet (check it out here!) is singing and praying around the New Testament passages of the Second Coming of Jesus Messiah with the sound of the final trumpet and the team even has trumpet accompaniment! My heart can't help but leap with longing for that Day... the reality, glory, and drama of it all will far eclipse that final battle scene in JRR Tolkien's "The Return of the King"... this previous post unfolds the story much more thoroughly than I will here.

I pondered these passages:
Revelation 10:7 - ...in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

And then received this email from some dear friends:

Today, the first day of the Jewish 7^th month, is the Feast of Trumpets (Numbers 29:1/Leviticus 23:24). The word Teruah means “shouting” or “raising a noise”. The sounding of the shofar during this Feast is calling for the Messiah to come. To the Messianic believer the Messiah has already come and we call for His second coming thus fulfilling the Feast of Trumpets. In traditional Judaism, this Feast has also been called Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year) and is considered the Jewish New Year.

It is very significant that according to Torah the shofar is to be sounded on this Feast day. For the sound of the shofar is also meant to stir fear in the heart and to inspire teshuvah (repentance) Amos 3:6 The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of a 10 day period of prayer and repentance which culminates on the fast day of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). These ten days are known as the Days of Awe.

Waiting for the return of our Mashiach Yeshua,

Dennis and Joy

Yes, Jesus Messiah, You alone are the King that I want and I join with many others around the world today in praying that You would come home!

His Unending Glory...

Over the past few days I've been frequently praying a prayer that goes something like this: "Lord, help me to worship You simply for WHO You are rather than primarily on the basis of what You do for me." It's been burning in me since the sermon I heard last Sunday while I was visiting Forerunner Christian Fellowship in Kansas City. Stephen Venable preached on the worth of Christ to receive incessant worship for all eternity.

The quote that inspired this prayer in my heart and has kept me wrestling with my own selfishness and lack of revelation of His worth is this: "The Seraphim and the larger angelic host who are enraptured with ministry to Him have never had a single sin forgiven, never an ailment healed, and never a financial need met and yet their testimony is that His unending glory warrants their unending praise."

Venable was referencing Revelation 4:8 "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" and Isaiah 6:1-3 "...I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'"

I don't know about you, but my heart is prone to being fickle... worship and thanksgiving to God often flow more readily when life is going well and I am keenly aware of the benefits God offers. During times when things just don't seem to be going smoothly; when life is hard and the fire of testing feels too hot, I'm usually less likely to offer up prayers of thanksgiving to God. Selfish? In my case, the answer is too often "Yes!" I need a deep revelation within my being of the magnificent greatness, holiness, power, glory, and love of God that I couldn't help but adore Him through every high and low. Help me, Holy Spirit!

Here are links if you're interested in watching, hearing, or reading this sermon from April 25th.

Resurrection Day!

It's Easter morning and I suppose it shouldn't surprise you that I've got the resurrection on my mind. Truth be told, this morning I've been thinking that Easter has just recently become my favorite holiday (and that has nothing to do with chocolate!). I've always believed that Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead, but it's only recently that I have been wrestling through what the Bible says about the earth also being "raised" or restored to original perfection under the leadership of Jesus after His Second Coming... and that has changed a lot in my mind!

If you are like me, you may have often pictured heaven with lots of clouds, streets of gold, perpetual singing... but not really tangible... and honestly, a little boring when you think about being there for millions upon millions of years. But, consider the thought of heaven and earth becoming one and actually being able to work in and enjoy creation as it was always meant to be known, in a body that will never die. I'm not sure about you, but to me, that sounds like something to look forward to! I've recently reflected on much of this more fully in other blog posts, so dig deeper there and into the Word itself if you're raising that "she sounds nuts" eyebrow that I would have raised if I had read this a few years ago.

This Resurrection Sunday I want to leave you with a few Bible passages that ought to fill your heart with joy and hope and blow your mind if you take some time to ponder the implications:

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Philippians 3:20,21 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body...

1 Corinthians 15:52 - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

The Hope of Glory

What is the one and only solid hope in which to see our hearts anchored? Joshua Hawkins articulates so well what has been churning in my own heart this past year. Below is an excerpt from a recent blog post of his:

"The restoration of true biblical hope, the hope of glory...

"The western church today is almost completely disconnected from the New Testament idea of “hope”, minimizing it to an emotion to help sustain us before we have power, dominion, influence, or lasting peace and joy in this age. But the New Testament idea of hope is completely anchored in the age to come, in which Jesus will come, establish His kingdom, and abolish death forever. Signs and wonders, healings, joy, and revival are not manifest evidences of Christ's kingdom breaking in to the earth today, but are something much more important - they are heightened, undeniable evidences to the coming day of the Lord where He will establish His messianic kingdom on the earth, give the saints a resurrected body free of imperfections, and deal with sin and death forever.

If we set our hope on “now” so that we believe that our mandate is societal transformation, great revival, or some great influence of the church on the world in this age, will we be found disillusioned and offended at God if those things do not come to pass in the way we think they will? The biblical hope does not disappoint in any way (Romans 5:5), because the resurrection of Christ and the Spirit living in us guarantees the promises of God (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Cor 1:20). God raised Jesus from the dead as the clearest evidence of His identity as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), and this is what provoked the Jews to believe in His return to make all things new (Ephesians 1:9-10). Every time someone is healed or delivered, every time someone shakes or is overwhelmed by God’s presence, and every time our hearts are filled with God’s joy, God is giving us an undeniable, divine witness to His promise, and this is what anchors us in the hope of the restoration of all things. We must not minimize these witnesses, but see them as divine assistance to propel our hearts deeper in the "hope to which He has called us" (Ephesians 1:18)."

How's This For Drama?... Kingdom of God (part 6)

Under the glow of the moon and stars, Mom and I marveled at the reality of the incarnation of Jesus during a late night chat in the backyard this past Christmas. "I don't think I've ever really thought much about the fact that even today Jesus is still in a human body and will be in that body forever...," Mom said with awe in her voice. I replied, "Doesn't it give you a whole new appreciation for Christmas? Jesus didn't just temporarily humble Himself when He came as a baby that first Christmas, but He took on human flesh forever... Who else has ever loved like that?" Our hearts swelled with more love for Jesus and wonder at the story He is continuing to unfold.

It's pretty amazing that the King of kings took on human flesh forever, died, rose from the dead, then ascended into heaven and remains there today in a resurrected human body, isn't it!?!?? (Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22) What thrills my heart even further is the rest of this story yet to unfold... Jesus has promised that He will return one day in His resurrected body at the sound of the final (7th) trumpet (Revelation 11:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:29-31). When He returns (Jesus in the flesh; a Jewish man), He will remain here, restoring the earth and establishing His rule from His throne in Jerusalem (as God promised David that there would forever be one from his lineage reigning on his throne - 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalm 89:2-4; Psalm 132:11,12; Psalm 2:6-8). During this time, every enemy to righteousness and justice will be put under the feet of King Jesus (Acts 2:34-35; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26). How's that for drama?

I'll leave you with scriptures that tell this very real and yet unfolding story better than I can:

Isaiah 9:6,7 - For to us a child is born [Jesus, Messiah], to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Luke 1:30-33 - And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Revelation 10:7 - ...in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets [see Amos 3:7].

Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

Matthew 24:27 - For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Daniel 7:13,14 - "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man [Jesus, Messiah], and he came to the Ancient of Days [the Father] and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

To sum it all up...
Philippians 2:5-11 - ...Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Nothing That Eclipses JOY... Kingdom of God (part 5)

In the New Heavens and New Earth there will be NOTHING that eclipses JOY... those who love Jesus in this age will experience endless joy in that age which will be far better than any great expectation my finite mind could conjure up.

"No death, no suffering. No funeral homes, abortion clinics, or psychiatric wards. No rape, missing children, or drug rehabilitation centers. No bigotry, no muggings or killings. No worry or depression or economic downturns. No wars, no unemployment. No anguish over failure and miscommunication. No con men. No locks... No mourning. No pain. No boredom.

No arthritis, no handicaps, no cancer, no taxes, no bills, no computer crashes, no weeds, no bombs, no drunkenness, no traffic jams and accidents, no septic-tank backups. No mental illness. No unwanted e-mails.

Close friendships but no cliques, laughter but no put-downs. Intimacy, but no temptation to immorality. No hidden agendas, no backroom deals, no betrayals.

Imagine mealtimes full of stories, laughter, and joy, without fear of insensitivity, inappropriate behavior, anger, gossip, lust, jealousy, hurt feelings, or anything that eclipses joy..."
- Randy Alcorn, Heaven

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied [then]. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh [then]. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven...” Luke 6:20-23

Death Swallowed Up In Victory... Kingdom of God (part 4)

Behold! I tell you a mystery... we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ...then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

In a world where death seems so inescapable, it is astounding to ponder the reality that we were never meant to die. With this curse that sin has brought, so much of our life now is oriented around death and the fear of it. Our great hope that will certainly be realized is that Jesus is returning to conquer death forever and redeem our bodies too! I'm beginning to pray for and interpret miraculous healing today as a tiny foretaste of what the power of God will do in THAT DAY -- a sign to anchor hearts in the hope of what is coming when the King returns.

Our coming resurrection is spoken of throughout the Bible. Here are a few passages to whet your appetite:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 tells us to comfort one another with these words : "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus... For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

1 Corinthians 6:14 - And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 - But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father... For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Romans 8:22,23 - For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

We Will See His Face... Kingdom of God (part 3)

"...And they will
see His face..."
Revelation 22:4

"...We will likely wonder if we ever lived before we saw his face!... To look into God's eyes will be to see what we've always longed to see: the [One] who made us and for whom we were made... Seeing God will be like seeing everything else for the first time...."
- Randy Alcorn, Heaven

Where Righteousness Dwells... Kingdom of God (part 2)

But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

Will it be like breathing air for the first time?... the purest, most refreshing breath of air imaginable... breathed in by a resurrected, glorified body on the restored earth where righteousness dwells. No more sin, no more curse of death, no more pain, no more sorrow... ahhhhh...

Rather than me unpacking that weighty thought here today, I want to encourage you to dig into the Scriptures yourself and take your time... enough time to actually begin to imagine the glory of it. Most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit to fascinate your heart with the plan of God as He gives to you wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). Revelation 21 is a great place to start!

Longing For a Better Country... Kingdom of God (part 1)

...They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for He has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11:16

..I still remember it today..
As a child, fear mixed with awe and excitement would come over me nearly every time I saw sunbeams breaking through the sky on a cloudy day. "Is Jesus coming back today?," "Will He be taking me with Him?," I would wonder through my heavily clouded understanding of eternity. Now, years later, much stronger hope, longing, and expectation have begun rising up within me surrounding the subject of eternity and the Kingdom of God.

..Who doesn't long for all wrongs to be made right?..
Every election season, don't we all itch for quality governance in the land; for wise and good leaders to be elected? There is something knit within the fabric of every human heart that longs for all to be well, for everyone to get along, for genuine love to be what naturally flows in interactions between all people. We literally ache for a cure for cancer, for there to be an end to death, suffering, and pain. Could such a reality ever be possible?

I am more convinced than ever that most, if not all, of our hopes in human efforts toward peace, well-being, and love at home and abroad are misplaced. These days my expectation is being anchored in what I believe is the one and only lasting solution. There is hope; this reality we live in today is not the end of the story. Isaiah 42:4 promises God "will not grow faint or be discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for His law."

..Could it be that there is such a King who really will come?..
There's a conviction within my heart that the perfect leader really is coming in the flesh; that Jesus Himself will lovingly rule within a real government over a real domain... a real kingdom... and "His glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea," Habakkuk 2:14. The overarching message of the Bible is that from the beginning of time, the plan and desire of God has been to actually dwell among us, the people He created and loves. I believe it will happen... my prayer is that it will happen soon.

Imagine what you would feel inside at hearing this oracle yourself: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore...'" Revelation 21:3,4

..More to come..
This is a massive topic that's threaded throughout the Scriptures... way too much for one blog post! How will I ever find words to begin to describe the thrill of the thought of having an indestructible body that lives forever on the fully restored earth where God Himself dwells among men? I'll have to unpack these thoughts another day (I suppose for all eternity). Stay tuned for more verses and snippets of revelation as I continue to reflect on the abundance of Scriptures on the subject...