I wish I were someone who could walk around so confidently saying, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” After all, aren’t all Christ followers supposed to be able to say it so freely? If I’m being honest, sometimes I don’t even want to remember that Jesus is coming back. Sometimes I rush past the thought when it comes to mind. Because, when I remember that He is coming again, I tend to think about all the earthly moments I won’t get to experience if He comes back soon while I’m on this side of our eternity.
I wish I could say that the truth of today’s Scripture reading is what first comes to mind when I consider Jesus’s sure, coming return. In part, I know these thoughts are a consequence of living in a sinful, broken world with an imperfect, not fully-redeemed mind. But Isaiah 65 gives me hope. One day, not only will the heavens and earth be made new, but what I remember and how I think will be made new as well. When Jesus comes back, I won’t be sitting in grief over unfulfilled, earthly moments. After all, “the past events will not be remembered or come to mind” (v.17). The Lord says that what He will do will be worth rejoicing in forever (v.18). These words aren’t wishful thinking. They describe our upcoming, eternal reality with renewed minds.
Even Paul, hundreds of years later, affirmed the heart of this prophecy from Isaiah. The point of remembering that Christ is coming again, according to Paul, is to live in hope, not grief (1Thessalonians 4:13). Our one sure hope is that we will be in God’s presence forever with all those who are in Christ (v.17). And that is enough to rejoice in for eternity. And yet, that’s not all we’ll get to experience. We’ll get to live and worship in the new heavens and the new earth—which we got a glimpse of in today’s reading. To think of the world redeemed like this feels hard to even fathom. What an experience that life will be—living in a world free from the presence and power of sin. Gosh, I want that. What an abundant, gracious God to assure us that we will live completely and freely in His presence, and every single experience in the new heavens and new earth—from every animal and acre of land to every human thought and experience—will be consumed in and reflect God’s perfect glory.
When I fixate on my earthly longings, I’m placing my hope in uncertainties. But when I remember that Jesus is coming back and He’s going to make all things new, I find sure, firm certainty.
Our People of Remembrance reading plan ends with the final verses in the canon of Scripture, calling Jesus to return. If that’s the final cry of God’s Word, may it be the final cry of my heart as well. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
I enjoyed People of Remembrance Looking forward to the Matthew Study . Blessings
Teresa D. for your sister I hope the doctors can determine what is going on.
I’ve been absent for the past week due to a terrible virus. I’m finally back to normal, and spent a good portion of today catching up on readings and devotions. I’m sad that the comments are gone. I’m praying for each request mentioned today, and praying for all SRT sisters.
My sister has been in the hospital since Wednesday morning, and is quite sick. The doctors are having a difficult time determining what is wrong and how to help her. So far, they’re just relying on morphine to keep the pain somewhat manageable. Please pray that her doctors will have the knowledge and wisdom to correctly diagnose the problem, so they can treat her, and pray she will soon recover.
Today’s devotional stirred up a mix of emotions. I shared some of Hannah’s sentiments as well like most of us. The return of the Lord is joyful for us, His children, but it’s also the time of separation with those who don’t choose Him, we will be separated from them. The birth pains and the increasing contractions- a very scary thing. The Bible says that those in hell can see those who are in heavens, there is a large chasm in between (the rich man in hell could see Lazarus and Father Abraham in heaven and could talk). I don’t know if that would still be the case, but it is painful to see and know who’s where as well, as Ecclesiastes say, the more knowledge the more the grief, what if it is our families that the chasm will separate, and we can see. I turned to this verse for hope, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36 NKJV). May we pray and hope in the Lord that He alters the hearts of our unsaved loved ones, and in our nations, on earth as in Heaven. Lord have mercy upon those who still reject you, soften their heart, transform their thoughts, attitude, and actions to receive You now and have a blissful eternity.
@DONNA WOLCOT: continued prayer for your doctor friend and her mission work in Ukraine.
@JESSICA H: your niece Isabelle and deliverance from eating disorder/oppression.
@GWINETH52: insomnia be gone. Sweet and deep sleep.
@RYAN MYERS: hello and so glad you came on here to introduce yourself and address the issues. Thank you for your hard work and the dedication of all SRT team members behind the scene. We love you and lift your families in prayers, troubleshooting issues soon to be resolved. Blessings.
@THERESE R: loved the book club, read-alongs! I am a slow/savoury reader, hope that’s okay.
@DANIELLE B: for your dear grandma, healing and rehab solution.
@SARAH D: praying for your courage and stamina to set up boundaries with this boy in classroom, and may his parents assist you as well with setting structures in their home environment, and follow through. I am so sorry.
@SEARCHING:❤️
@TAYLOR: praying that all is well with you.
@TAMI C: thank you, lifting up your dear Chela.
@JULIA C: loved your prayers.❤️
Have a great weekend everyone.
Be blessed dear sisters.
Even now the Lord hears us before we call out to Him.
Isaiah 65:24 Even before they call, I will answer;
while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Thank you for all you share each day, I join those who write prayers and your wisdom teaches me something every day. This was a great study and may I start each day in “Remembrance” of the sacrifice and the promise. Lifting you all.
I have a prayer request, my friend who is a medical missionary leaves tomorrow to go back to Ukraine to live for a year. She has found housing and will be setting up clinics, she can’t share where. She also will be organizing short term mission trips to help with medical and construction (not heavy), working with the children etc. She has worked all over the world and responds during a crisis. During the ebola epidemic she went to Africa, worked in Haiti during another event and for almost 10 yrs in the DR with Haitians living on sugar cane plantations, that is how I met her. My prayer is for her safety and those who come along side her and for all she serves. Going to a war zone is not an easy choice, but God has given her a task. Thank you.
@Jessica H. – I prayed for your niece this morning, but am lifting her to the Lord again right now. Father God, please be near to this girls heart. Please let Isabelle find healing, and most of all – if she doesn’t know you draw her to You. Minister to her Mama’s and grandma’s heart. Give peace, give wisdom to the doctors, surround them all with your love. Heal this dear soul. In Jesus Name. ❤️
Good morning my sweet she sisters! I am so thankful for this place that we have to come to – to share, to glean, to pray for one another and learn from each other.
“Behold I am coming soon!” I hate to admit that I don’t always have the right reasons for wanting Christ to come soon. Usually it’s when I’m suffering yet another day of physical, chronic pain, or I let my gaze focus on all the evil in this world. I hope that it will take a turn, and that my desire for Christ to come quickly is so that I can see Him face to face and forever be in His presence. Yet, there are times that I too want Him to hold off until my 2 prodigal adult sons come back to Him, and all those I know and love will be saved. Oh that I might be able to say along with Paul – and mean it – “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
@Sarah D. – praying for you today. May God give you the wisdom and patience each and every day to know how to handle challenging students (and their parents!).
@Tami C. – continued prayers for Chela, praising God with you that she agreed to counseling. Praying that her counselor is a good fit , that Chela is open and honest with her and that God will bring healing.
@Danielle B. – prayers that your parents will soon completely recover from covid and that your grandma will find a rehab she will willingly go to and have a quick recovery so that she can soon be back in her own home.
Have a fabulous Friday and a blessed weekend!
@Ryan Myers – thank you for taking the time to update us all on the problems and progresses of the website and the app. Technology is great…when it works right! May God bless each of the staff at SRT and all the writers with wisdom and knowledge as they pass on to each of us what God has taught them.