Yes Lord, tis the season for a weary world to REJOICE, for yonder breaks a NEW and glorious morning!  As His JOY rises in me, I face the future with eyes wide open, and a smile that cheers others. “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”  Psalm 144:15  By faith, we anticipate unlimited tomorrows.  “Through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2

“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; character; and hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 In the unseen realm, our Father’s warrior angels have fought and won battles we know nothing about. Regardless of how you feel, choose to shine with joy as you submit to the Spirit of God. The folks who watch us suffer with joy do benefit by the gift of our faith. All glory to God!

“For in this HOPE we were SAVED. But HOPE that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we HOPE for what we do NOT yet have, we wait for it PATIENTLY. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit HIMSELF intercedes for us through wordless groans. And HE who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:24-27

It is our freedom to be His chosen messenger of HOPE. Trust God as He alone holds the future, and our Father knows best. Take in a deep breath knowing that all world events are not beyond His control. Speak the name of Jesus and refresh your mind in His promises. Surrender your mental, emotional, and spiritual state to YAWEH, for His Way and His will shall be done. His Word never fails.

God’s vision of the future is written down, and it is rapidly being fulfilled. Look forward WITH HOPE! Our Father cancels our plans because His are greater. We have the blessed assurance of Heaven, our Father urges us to think on these things. “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 Our faith will be tested during trials. Will we take a leap of faith?

What action is this? “My dear friends—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:12-16

Bible stories add to the sparkle of the Holy Spirit at work in us: 1 Kings 19:19-21 Elijah found a farmer named Elisha plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. The prophet Elijah went up to the farmer who had dirty hands and threw his cloak around him. The farmer left his oxen and ran after Elijah.  The farmer said, “Let me kiss my parents goodbye, and then I will come with you.”  Elisha took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then, he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.” Don’t look back, look forward with great Hope in His plan.

Be encouraged by the widow who trusted God with all she had. 1 Kings 17:12-16 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” the widow replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ Trusting the word given, she went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken.” God has a Word for you today. HOPE is ever found in the Bible.

“She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:6 REJOICE because of God’s plans for you.

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” ACTS 1:11 Have you ever really thought about the truth contained in this verse? “Jesus is coming soon.” His return will be like His rising up and every knee wil bow  and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. However, when He returns, will you be wheat or chaff, a goat or a sheep? “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matt 3:12

Scripture tells the truth and it never changes. Jesus is literally coming back to earth one day. The promised return of Christ is made clear 23 times in the NT. Jesus often spoke about it Himself. In the 66 books of the Bible, you’ll find that one out of every 30 verses refers to the return of Christ or the topic of the end times. So it’s fair to say this is a major biblical theme from cover to cover.  Jesus’s followers have fully believed, taught, and expected that He would return.  Scripture reminds us of this promise every time we take communion and “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” 1 Corinthians 11:26

We also pray for the arrival of the end times in the Lord’s prayer whenever we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10. The topic of Christ’s return brings to mind:  Apocalypse. Wars. Armageddon. End times. The last days. Judgment.  The topic of Christ’s return has been hijacked away from what the Bible actually teaches.

It’s not a doom-and-gloom scare tactic. His return is a foundational truth of the Christian faith. The question is, will He find you faithful to Him? What happens to those who deny Jesus?Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Now is the time to take your eternal destination seriously.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a FEW find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:13

Jesus is the One sitting on the throne, and He will be making all things NEW. The power of our HOPE in His promises is significant. Ever wonder WHY we don’t want to eat gravel? It is because our Creator God made us in His image to desire all good things. One great promise is that there will be no more tears, sorrow or pain. ADDING to expand that promise, in heaven there will be no more: deception; lies; rape; confusion; anxiety; cancer; hatred; disease; depression; demons; dread; shame; blame; diets; gossip, heartache; hurricanes; radiation, or destruction. PRAISE GOD for what is to come, on earth as it is in heaven. Hallelujah