But What About Those Who Pass From This World

God’s people and the promised land were prophesied to be united. But what about those who pass from this world before that realization. Well, they will, with the New Earth.

The question today in my study is “Where and When will our deliverance come?”. That is such a great question for us to consider, knowing that we are not long in this world. Where I am looking forward to Christ coming again, the reality is that I do not know when He returns and I could pass from this world before then. So the selfish man in me wonders if and when will I get to experience it. Have I been left out? NO.

I have to remember that this earth is just a temporary location for me. Whether I am here at the second coming of Christ or I pass from here beforehand, I am/will be waiting. I have not been forgotten. As a child of God, my destiny is the promised land.

The Israelite people were ushered into the promised land with Joshua leading them after years in the wilderness waiting. Where looking at this would seem that the promised land is or was already given over to God’s people, that was only the land of this earth before the restoration that comes with resurrection and redemption.

“¹⁷For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. ¹⁸But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.” – Isaiah 65:17-18 (ESV)

At resurrection and the conclusion of the final battle, the New Heaven will come down to the New Earth and be opened for God’s people to enter. This is the promised land for us all and the fulfilled promise of God. We will be delivered into the promised land at the restoration of the Earth into the New Earth which will be as God created in the beginning.

What is your thought on your inheritance of the promised land? Do you feel as though you will miss or have missed out? What if you look to the New Earth instead, and know that this is the promise of God and we all will be restored into the restored New Earth as promised?

Take the Bread Always

I am so glad the church we are members that we observe the LORD’s Supper each week. At the end of each service on Sundays, regardless of who brings the message, we share in the taking of the bread and cup. The weekly reminder that we are not alone and have our brothers and sisters in Christ as one body as we undertake the next week of what comes from this world.

Growing up it was customary to observe the LORD’s Supper once a quarter and for the longest time, I believed that was the way it was supposed to be. I had fallen into legalism and process and procedure as opposed to the worship of Christ and following His Word.

“²⁶For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” – 1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

There it is from Jesus Himself. We are to proclaim Him at all times. It only makes sense that we should observe Him at all times. Too often, I do believe that we fall into the habit of things and are not living in the moment as the LORD has outlined for us to do. I have to remember that the LORD is here always and I have to acknowledge Him as such. I have to observe His place in my life daily and always to ensure that I am working to be in line with His will for my life and the world around me. In order for that to happen, I have to remember the next two verses in the passage that are vital to the whole.

“²⁷Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” – 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (ESV)

When I look at the above verses, I am compelled to read them in reverse order, 28 then 27. I have to remember that yes, I take of the bread daily and always, yet I do need to first examine myself and “come clean” with the LORD before taking. I have to ensure that I have given all of me to the LORD and remember that I am here to do His will and not my own. I am of the body of Christ and therefore am here for His workmanship.

It is easy to fall into the traps of doing things because that is the way they are done. I see it too often in the corporate world. I have to remember that the important thing is really to ensure that I am doing things with the LORD’s Will in mind and not my own. The way for that to be done is to daily and always examine myself and the direction I am going and only when I have remembered and committed to doing the Will of God, I take of the body of Christ and proceed with His work and movement toward the end result of Christ which is the spreading of the gospel.

What is your approach to the taking of the body of Christ? Are you falling into the process and/or procedure that you are told? What if you were to take of the body of Christ daily and always to remind you, as in scripture, of the way of the LORD?

Shed Blood for Forgiveness

Jesus died for me. And you. And ALL.

I know, this is something that we should know, especially those of us who have been exposed to the gospel. It is at the heart of the gospel that He died so that we would not have to die as payment for our sins. This morning I was reminded of more at the heart of the gospel in that Jesus did not just die for my sins, he bled out for the forgiveness of those sins.

“²⁶Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ ²⁷And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, ²⁸for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’” — Matthew 26:26-29 (ESV)

I have placed all of the verses titled the “Institution of the Lord’s Supper” from my English Standard Version bible. I believe it gives the full context of the moment and the words of Jesus. And as I know the full text is important, for the purpose of this morning I am focused on verses 27 and 28 and Jesus’ reference to the cup and blood.

Jesus did die for me and you and ALL. What I want to be sure and reference here is that He did not just die, His blood was spilled or “poured out” as in the words of Jesus. When I think of pouring out, I see the full volume of the vessels contents draining from the vessel itself. Jesus did not just pass from this world, He did so in a violent and vile manner.

I know that in the above passage, Jesus had yet to die, yet He was informing His disciples of the reality of what was going to happen. He was letting them know that what was about to happen was not going to be a calm and lovely teaching moment as this supper was. It was not going to be pleasant, yet is was required and Jesus knew the cost and wanted them to know that it was all okay.

I am sad that Jesus had to die and in such a violent manner. I am sad that He “poured out” His blood so that I did not have to. I am sad that I am a sinner that caused this to happen. Yet, on the contrary, I am glad that Jesus loves me so much that He was willing to die for me. I am glad that He was willing to pour out His blood so that I did not have to. I am glad that even as a sinner, Jesus loves me so much even now that He would do it all over again to ensure that I would be able to live out my life in forgiveness of those sins.

What is your version of the death of Jesus in your mind? Do you even think of the violent nature and His “poured out” blood? What if you looked closer and realized the vile and violent nature of His death and the “poured out” blood for the forgiveness of your sins (past, present, and future)?