Corona Devo 3159


It can be debated, but many polls find "public speaking" (glossophobia) to be the fear that ranks highest in people's responses when categorized.   And other fears at the top of people's lists include heights (acrophobia), bugs (entomophobia), and claustrophobia (fear of small spaces). 

But another consistent response when it comes to our fears is... (can we guess it?): death.  

There's no way around the fact that each of us will die one day.  And yet, the topic and acceptance and the unknown of death (and what succeeds death) has been a hot (and worrisome) button since before there were buttons.

But as for those of us who read our Bibles and believe what God says in them...well, there are days when I can't wait.

No, non, no, I am not saying that I literally "can't wait to die", because that would be morbid.  But, Yes(!) to the notion that we cannot wait to be with Jesus, the Lamb, when our time does come to do so.

Sometimes when this world and its brokenness and wickedness crowd our hearts and threaten our peace, and steal our spark...we may think to ourselves: "I can't wait".  

You may deem that idea as crazy or at the very least fatalistic, but then I would challenge us...have we read what God says about the life that Believers have after death?  It's something to look forward to...not fear.

When the appointed time of our death comes, our Heavenly Father will be waiting for us, and He already has our wardrobe laid-out (white robes) and our schedule planned (they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.  ~Revelation 7:15).

When we are with the Lord in Heaven, we will not be separated from Him, as we are now, but instead, He who sits on the throne will dwell among them (Revelation 7:15). 

Can life (I mean..."death") get any better than that...dwelling with our Lord? 

Again, I am not (IN ANY WAY) encouraging any of us to cut our lives short.  Never.  But I am encouraging us to take "fear of dying" (thanatophobia) off of our anxiety list.  

Why?  

How can we know what's "on the other side"?  

Beloved, the Bible (God's Word) tells us.  And...it's wonderful.  
When followers-of-Christ pass from this life and into the next, in God's presence, there will be nothing (at all) to fear.

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; (17) for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  ~Revelation 7:16-17

I'm not sure which piece of these Scriptures sounds most delightful for us: 

1. Not stressing about providing and consuming meals anymore (They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore.  ~Revelation 7:16)

2. Not worrying about the weather (the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat...  ~Revelation 7:16).

3. Being in the midst of Jesus (AMAZING!) and having Him shepherd and lead us to living fountains of waters (Revelation 7:17).

4. Experiencing no more tears.  No more crying.  No more pain/sorrow/regret/bitterness/loneliness/hurt/disappointment/grief/abuse/anger.  Anything that makes us cry tears on earth will be wiped away and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 7:17)

Is the phrase "I can't wait" beginning to bounce around in your soul too?

And (again)--I am in no hurry to die, but at the same time, this beautiful (Scriptural) preview of Heaven takes the fear away.

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”  

(14) And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” 

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15) Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 

(16) They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; (17) for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  ~Revelation 7:13-17

With a preview of Heaven like that...I'll say it again: I can't wait!  

But until then, we have a lot of living to do today.  And (as God has explained to us in the Bible), we can live today without fear of death tomorrow because He lives.

...in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began...  ~Titus 1:2

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1065

Image
It’s never too late to turn to the Lord.   And--it’s never too late to turn back to the Lord.   Do we GET IT?   King Hezekiah GOT IT.   The people in his area (Israel) had not been following the Lord, and they had fallen away from the (God-ordained) traditions that the Lord had designed to connect His people with Himself,  like going to church (Temple), and like celebrating the festival of Passover.  So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel...inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the  Lord , the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law ( 2 Chronicles 30:5). Hezekiah  invited the people back to church!  But how to get the word out? He  wrote letters of invitation to the people (2 Chronicles 30:1), but letters without delivery are dead messages.  Hezekiah needed to get the letters ... to God's people! At the king’s command, runners were...
Read more

Corona Devo 1063

Image
Ever been around boys (of any age)?  They don't concern themselves with talking about   other  boys...they are not (usually) comparative that way, and would prefer to be competitive instead.  They are often contented with jokes and sounds, rather than defaming other guys or discussing their shortfalls. But...ever been around women ( of any age )?  For some sinful reason, our conversations often seem to p ick-a-little, talk-a-little, pick some more and talk, talk, talk about other women.  We  simmer into a boil as we digress and regress into unbecoming chatter about   other  women.   It's a terrible habit and yet girls in elementary school don't need to be taught how and even elderly church biddies can't quite fully withdraw.  We all still fall to condemning others  from time to time.  We have this sinful draw to make ourselves feel good by chirping back and forth and making someone   else   feel bad. It's na...
Read more

Corona Devo 1064

Image
The earth is the   Lord ’s, and everything in it.   The world and all its people belong to him.   (2)  For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas  and built it on the ocean depths.   ~Psalm 24:1-2 We belong to Him, but also…our world belongs to Him: and  everything in it .   Everything.   Every tree and flower, every person, every pelican, everything. How are we responding to that glorious Truth today?   Can we praise Him today?  Can we acknowledge and absorb (and respond!) to the awesome Truth that we belong to Him :  the Creator of all things, and our Creator?   He laid the earth’s foundation ...and (even)  the earth  knows that it belongs to him ... Do we? Are we choosing to respond to Him today?   The trees do.    Looking out my window as I read these words of God, I saw these words  proven by God as n aked tree-branch arms were raised in praise of their Creat...
Read more