Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, January 1, 2018
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 01.01.2018” on Spreaker.
This is devotional thought number 36 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Jesus said it! I believe His Word. His Word of promise is good enough for me.
Welcome Word for the Weary
One of the most encouraging passages in Scripture is where Jesus promised His disciples that He would not leave them on Earth forever. He would return one day to welcome all His children into the place He prepared for them. The devil will be thrown alive, along with those who serve him, into the lake of fire, which was prepared for him and his evil angels. God’s people have this promise to which to look forward: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1–3).
Do not allow the craziness of current events to cause you to lose hope in the coming of Jesus Christ. He’s preparing a place for you and very soon you will receive your crown of life and occupy your position in heavenly places. God’s promises are sure.
Briefing for Watchers
I love how the angel in our theme text prophetically got ahead of the deception of the last days regarding Jesus’ coming. He said that the same Jesus would return. How many times have you heard that some guy purporting to be Jesus was teaching in some certain location? That was not the same Jesus. The Bible actually says that the devil will clothe himself like an angel of light and have evil angels transform themselves into (false) ministers of righteousness. The angel made it clear that Jesus Christ, the One whom His people knew, ate with, and experienced, would be the One to come back for us. The One who assumed human flesh while retaining His divine essence has gone to heaven with His glorified humanity to represent all our needs in heaven, because He understands what it’s like to be human.
The angel continued by saying Jesus would come down in the manner they saw Him go. Jesus will come down from heaven through the clouds and His reward will be with Him. He will not appear in some secret chamber. He will not appear to certain people and work miracles. No! When Jesus appears, we will be changed. We will be given our new bodies. We will become like Him and see God as He is. When this same Jesus returns, whom the disciples knew, we will recognize Him and enjoy living in God’s presence forever and ever.
Ready for What’s Next
When this same Jesus returns in the way they saw Him go the following will happen: “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; We have waited for him, and he will save us: This is the Lord; we have waited for him, We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).
Jesus will keep His promise. Surrender your will. Keep the faith. Help prepare others. Be ready always, until He comes. The mouth of the Lord Has spoken.
