The Christian’s Great Hope: He is Risen!

I will be off line for a few days to visit my mom. In these uncertain times it is a good reminder that our hope is in Christ alone; He has accomplished everything necessary for our salvation; His longsuffering is to apply that salvation for our good and the good of our children’s children until all the elect are gathered into the eternal kingdom.

Do not despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, knowing that the goodness of God leads us to repentance [Romans 2:4].

He is risen indeed!

AMEN.

Every now and then a word will just stick in one's mind, a word from a reading or the liturgy. "Longsuffering" is indeed a very much-needed word from our Lord during these times of instant gratification and easy living. Of course, many are suffering and all are fighting a battle of some kind. So, all the more reason to contmplate these words of Scripture.

enjoy the visit, they leave us too soon too often.

Liked the post. Most appropriate. Hope all is well with you & yours.

Revelations 1:
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

I have no time now to devote to the blog this AM except to thank you for defending the faith. Also, I remind you that God always has His remnant of 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Take heart, dear brother, ‘be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.’

We expect opposition from the godless, but the harshest opposition and the deepest wounds come from the religious. You have a right and true Jerusalem blade; wrought by Him who cannot lie and tempered with precious blood. Let us fight as though the blade was joined to our hand and part of our arm. I could ask for no more faithful a companion at arms. [2 Timothy 4:2-5]

Paul ends his words with a reminder of the reality of death facing him. His hope was in the crown of righteousness laid up for him and all who love the Day of revelation. His comfort is found in the words, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Being around those who are near the end of their days is a powerful reminder of the reality of death facing us. There is the reality of sin and its effects, and the reality of grace and its effects.

Let us be found faithful to redeem the time while the Lord gives us opportunity.

What you have either purposely or inadvertently encouraged chiefest to do is to draw lines where Christian brothers are on opposing sides. That is not good.

I have no Christian brothers who oppose the will and Word of God.

You mention being wounded by the religious; no less was Christ when He said:

John 13:18
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Much can be learned also of David, a favorite of mine, who was counted as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22) according to the Scripture. I particularly like his willingness to do battle on behalf of God.
When he arrived at the battlefield to check on his brothers, he found even Saul to be afraid of the champion of the Philistines.
I believe David was angered when he replied, "...who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"(1 Sam 17:26).

Brother, even today we stand for the Word of God against the uncircumcised at heart (Rom 2:29), not denying Him as so many do (Titus 1:16) who refuse to set their affection on things above (Col 3:2).

As David was rebuked by the people for "his pride" and the "naughtiness" of his heart (1 Sam 17:28) we are also in this present day. We are called prideful, arrogant, conceited, etc, when all we desire to do is be stedfast and teach those who oppose themselves. Not according to the flesh for the flesh, but peradventure God "..will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:24-26). We speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11)according to the Word of God-the mighty weapon (Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12) of the Spirit. I believe to cower in the face of the uncircumcised who pervert the Truth is to be ashamed of the Truth, the Word, Jesus Christ.

Your encouragement is greatly appreciated, but as always you are too kind. As surely as I know of your rebuke if you found me in error, I am as sure of your support for the Truth-the same support that makes Caday5 rebuke you.