“HANDFULS OF PURPOSE”

Jack Davis

Boaz, (the kinsman redeemer) said; “And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not: – Ruth 2:16.

We read that Ruth beat out that she had gleaned, and when she had eaten that she was sufficed.

In Isaiah 28:10,13, we read how the Word of the Lord came to Israel; percept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little. As we think of those handfuls of purpose, we are reminded of how the Word of grace comes to us today. We do not receive it all at once. What a glorious privilege we have of living from hand to mouth, from God’s hand to our mouth. Thank God for providing the living bread upon which we may feed and be satisfied day by day. Ruth had decided to go out into the field to glean, that she might find grace in the sight of Boaz, and she certainly did. Ruth 2:2, Boaz said unto her, “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust” 2:12.

The Word of amazing grace is not enjoyed by us upon our merit, but is freely given by Him. He does put handfuls of purpose in our path that we might glean. All the provisions of God’s grace require the earnest appropriation of our faith. “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” – Rom. 5:2.

This little book Ruth tells the interesting story of how Ruth the Moabite came to be in the land of Canaan, and in the lineage of Christ. Naomi (Ruth’s mother-in-law) and her family (husband and two sons) left Bethlehem-judah because of the famine in the land. They went down to sojourn in the land of Moab. But we read that they continued there, dwelling there about ten years.

Naomi’s sons married Orpah and Ruth, Moabite women. Earlier God had judged Israel harshly for intermarrying with the Moabites. (Numbers 25) Naomi’s husband and two sons died. Then she heard that God had visited His people in the land of Judah in giving them bread. She decided to return to Bethlehem-judah. She tried to get her daughters-in-law’s to return to their homes. Orpah did so, but Ruth loved Naomi and wanted to go to the promise land with her mother-in-law.

Ruth chose to leave her father, mother, and the land of her nativity. She told Naomi, “whither thou goest, I will go; and whither thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy  God my God” – Ruth 1:16. This reminds me of Psalms 45:10-11.

Ruth had no claim to any right of inheritance in the land of Israel. When she met Boaz the near kinsman to Naomi’s husband) she spoke of herself as a stranger – Ruth 2:10. What a picture of our position outside Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:12-13,19) Our former head (husband) the first Adam, had died – Rom. 7:4. Now we needed a kinsman redeemer. Jesus Christ became that Redeemer and far more.

We read that, “in all things it behoved him to be made like unto her brethren…” – Heb. 2:17. He was the Word made flesh – John 1:14. “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh” – Rom. 8:3. He was made in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7) to become our kinsman redeemer. Throughout this Age of grace He has continued to let fall for us “handfuls of purpose” of a goodly, glorious heritage. Today is our time and place to glean that which He has commanded for us.

Boaz, not only rescued Ruth from extreme poverty, but bought and brought her into a rich inheritance and made her his wife. Those, who by faith, have come to know the Redeemer are offered the highest priviledge of being joined unto Him as his bride. GLORY, GLORY, let us go for it! Apprehend that for which we are apprehended! He is the reward and rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. He is the prize of the high calling. Phil. 3:12, Heb. 11:6; Phil. 3:8,14.

Note some “handfuls of purpose” worth gleaning.
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” I Jn. 3:8. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: And deliver them who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” Heb. 2:14-15.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in  Christ Jesus before the world began” II Tim. 1:9. Oh what a handful! In the purpose of God before the world began, the grace that brought us this great salvation would also bring us into a high, holy, heavenly calling.

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory…” Eph. 1:11-12. Oh beloved, shall we not gather such gracious word to our bosom, and wholeheartedly submit to His marvelous handiwork? In the ages to come, He is going to put on display all that His grace has been producing. (Eph. 2:7) “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him” Eph. 3:10-12.

Aren’t you glad that our Redeemer has commanded the Apostle Paul to drop some handfuls of purpose for us Gentiles? Oh, thank God I am!

It has always been His purpose to give us grace, and it has to be His grace to give us purpose. Consider Acts 11:21-23. We read about those that were scattered abroad preaching the Lord Jesus even unto the Gentiles. “And the hand of the Lord was with them;” Here we see the grace of God being extended. “And a great number believed,” Yes, the grace of God was powerfully gaining as it was distributed and shared with others. Many from among the Gentiles were turning to the Lord. It is the Word of God’s grace that turns us in the right direction. While the term “Gentile bride” is unscriptural, Thank God, that in this Age of grace He is taking out of the Gentiles a people for His name. Read Acts 15:14; 13: 46-48.

When News of the Gentiles turning to the Lord was heard by the church in Jerusalem, Barnabas was sent as far as Antioch to check it out. “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” Acts 11:23. Barnabas saw grace at work. Grace at work results in gladness for those that truly see. Col. 1:6; II Cor. 6:1; Titus 2:11-14; 3:3-7.

“Cleaving to the Lord with purpose of heart” (Acts 11:23) teaches us of grace appropriated, and who in this way would realize grace reigning. By this message of grace Barnabas was teaching them to be extremely in earnest, and totally dependent. The glorious provisions of grace must be realized in practical experience or it is in vain as far as the individual is concerned. It is in this practical way that we are built up and given an inheritance.

FAITHFULNESS

Anita Clark – Pastor, Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God , He is God, the Faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9

The first thing we want to establish is that our God is a FAITHFUL GOD. Isaiah 49:7 declares “The LORD that is faithful...shall choose thee.” He chose Israel to be His own peculiar treasure and He has chosen us, all who believe, to be His own beloved people. God’s very nature is LOVE. (I John 4:8) Because of His great and marvelous love, He will always be faithful to those who believe in Him and love Him.
I Corinthians 1:9, states, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” Also, in I Corinthians 10:13, we read about the essence of God’s wonderful enduring faithfulness. The Amplified Bible, which gives the meanings of the Greek words in the original text, puts it this way, “For no temptation - no trial regarded as enticing to sin [no matter how it comes or where it leads] - has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man - that is no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear, But God is faithful [to His Word and  His compassionate nature], and He can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out - the means of escape to a landing place - that you may be capable and strong and powerful patiently to bear up under it.”
II Thessalonians 3:3 tells us, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” From these Scriptures and many others, and in His dealings with us by experience, we are completely persuaded of God’s complete faithfulness in His dealings with us.
The other side of the coin, we might say, is OUR FAITHFULNESS to God. We can only be faithful by yielding to Him, and by letting the life of Christ dominate our being. This comes about by, “letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,” as Colossians 3:16 says. The word “dwell” in some places mean “to occupy a house, reside, remain, or inhabit.”
When we believe in Christ a change takes place. We become a new person, as the Bible states, “a new creature” – II Cor. 5:17. As He dwells in us - we become more like Him. He is Faithful - we become Faithful! As we yield to Christ and His work in our lives, we take on the characteristics of Jesus Christ and our Father God.. Colossians 1:27, declares “Christ in you the hope of glory.”
One of my favorite verses is Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
In Galatians 5:22-23, The fruit of the Spirit is recorded. These traits are from the new life of Christ in us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law.” The Amplified Version records that the word “faith” here speaks of “faithfulness.”
Of course we know that the life of Christ in us manifests “faith” but also, “faithfulness.” The Holy Spirit within us produces these traits as we yield our will to the Lord. Faithfulness will come forth in our lives as we walk with God and grow, becoming spiritually mature.
In the New Testament the word “Faithfulness” means “trustworthy, sure and true.” Some of the ways this is manifested in our lives is that others see this trait in us, we can be trusted because we are faithful. We learn to be faithful following God’s Word in spiritual things and natural things.
One of those things the Word teaches us to do is to recognize that we as a member of the body of Christ need to obey the Word in coming together in the body of believers, where God has placed us, to worship and minister to each other. As the Apostle Paul particularly teaches in his writings that each member of the body or church has a gift to serve and edify other members of the group, so if we are to be faithful to obey the Lord and the Word of God, we will faithfully fulfill whatever calling God has given particularly to us individually for the edification of other members of the body of believers. God has not called us to be alone, but has a wondrous plan to use us to help others grow up into Christ in all things.

LET US BE FAITHFUL BY GOD’S GRACE AND STRENGTH!

What’s New?

Gordon Crook

A common greeting might be: “What’s new?” The expectation is to get updated on the other person’s life since the last meeting. However, I thought that a good reply might be: “I am.”
If you are a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are new. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are new because we have the new life of Jesus. He doesn’t just patch up the old, He makes all things new.
Too many want to hang on to the old, attempting to fix it up and make it look good. This may be acceptable if we are talking about an old piece of furniture or an old house, but it is not a good thing to do concerning our lives. Much better is to let the new life of Jesus take over changing us from the inside.
In the natural, sometimes we like the looks of something old, or maybe we like an old item because it is nostalgic. Let us not become nostalgic about the old nature. The old nature is not good or useful, and has no beauty at all. God offers us something completely new and significantly better. Why would we turn that down to keep the old, rotten, worthless, damaged old creation. Romans 6:4-6; 7:6.
With the new life of Christ that we have, we find many things renewed. A new attitude, a new hope (expectation), a new view of life and death, a new desire to serve God instead of ourselves. Many new things come about as a result of allowing the new life of Christ to take over.
This is not a “one and done” thing. There is a constant yielding to be done so that the life of Christ can truly rule in us. We need to be renewed in our mind by taking in the Word of God. While we have the life of Christ, we also have an old nature that wants to take over and have its way. So, day by day we are yielding to the new life that is changing us from glory to glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
So, why choose the new over the old? The old is corrupt and useless. It cannot bring us to God. It cannot be improved. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” Ephesians 4:22. The old is unrighteous, the new is righteous. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:30. The old leads us away from God, the new leads us to God. The old is riddled with sin, the new cannot sin.
So, when someone asks you “what’s new,” you can think about how you are new because of Jesus Christ. This is not just some nice philosophy, it is a reality that we can choose and it brings real change to our lives instead of just the same old thing again and again.I encourage you to yield yourself to the new life of Christ that dwells in you, and if you do not yet have that new life, that you ask God and receive in faith believing God’s promise.

EXAMPLES FROM THE PAST

By Orville Freestone

Lakewood, Colorado

Daniel – A Purposed Life

“But Daniel purposed in his heart” – Dan. 1:8

When the Babylonians conquered the Kingdom of Judah they exiled the Jews to Babylon in three separate deportations. They left only a small population in Judah that soon fled to Egypt. (Jer. 43:7 & 52:16) The first to go into exile were the princes and prominent persons. Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were among these. It was the policy of the Babylonians to “pick the brains” of the conquered peoples for their own benefit. Daniel and his friends were thus picked. Their “education” was learning the Aramaic language, the lore of the “wise men” and various government responsibilities. Such positions, some with considerable power, brought pressure to conform to the society, to assimilate. Thus began the twenty-six hundred years of Jewish resistance to “assimilation.”

The first problem Daniel faced was the matter of food. He “purposed in his heart” not to “defile himself” with the kings food. (Dan. 1:8) The reason for this was the kings food was not kosher. The wine and the flesh had been dedicated to the gods of Babylon. By courtesy and diplomacy he and his friends were excused from this requirement. This meant that their diet was of necessity vegetarian. A second problem was idolatry. Israel was the only nation that was not idolatrous. The third chapter of Daniel is about Daniel’s friend, not him. They too were true to their convictions, ready to face death in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace rather than to conform. Doubtless Daniel faced like pressure. Another problem arose over the matter of prayer. Daniel’s non-Jewish peers were jealous of his success. They observed that he was a man of prayer. Daniel openly prayed in the manner Solomon had prescribed. (I Kings 8:46-53) His enemies succeeded in making this illegal, but Daniel had the courage to continue to pray for his people. He did not fear the lions den. God assured him that his prayers were heard, (Dan. 10:12) but He had plans for his people and they were very long range plans.

Because of Daniel’s courage and faithfulness he was in a position to influence the government for good concerning his people. He also was entrusted with revelations concerning the future. Thus he ministered to those of his time and also to us. Daniel lived in an alien society, but not of his own choosing. He realized that he must live apart from the world around him. He was faithful to his responsibilities, but would not comfort to the spirit of the age. We also are in this world but not of it. (John 17:14) We, too, must not be conformed to this world. (Rom. 12:2)

MEDITATION

Debra Isenbletter – Pastor

Christian Assembly, Springfield, Missouri

“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country” Mt. 21:34.
We are studying the Parables on Sunday morning and this is the Parable of the Householder and the Vineyard. The “certain householder” is God, the “vineyard” is Israel. The “hedge” speaks of separation, both God’s Love and God’s Law separated them. Within that vineyard was placed a “winepress” and a “tower.” The “winepress” pictures suffering and especially the suffering of Calvary. The “tower” was a structure, a “watch tower.” From it the watchmen would stand guard and warn of danger. The watchmen were those who taught the Word. The “tower” can picture the Temple from where the Word of God went forth.
What struck me while I was teaching is that both the “winepress” and “tower” were a permanent part of the vineyard. Both were necessary for fruitfulness. The “tower” can picture the Word of God that goes forth, that is heard in a place of worship (temple). The “winepress” speaks of pressure, it can picture suffering, but especially suffering in connection to the Word of God. Those two things over the years were always a part of the vineyard (Israel). Down through the years they heard the Word and there was a cost. Obedience was costly, it separated them, it was painful. Disobedience was painful in a different way, a different pressure was applied by God through the nations around them. The Lord used a “winepress” to temper and test them. What has happened through the years was that their was a failure in teaching the Word, and believing the Word. There should have been those in the “watchtower” to watch over God’s people. Natural leaders (kings, elders); spiritual leaders (priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes. All were responsible for the safety of the vineyard.
The “husbandmen” were those that the householder “lent” or “rented” the vineyard to. They were the caretakers, vine dressers. They forgot they were only servants, that the vineyard was not theirs. They forgot the “watch tower,” they avoided the “winepress.” There was a failure on their part, a failure in their responsibility to the vineyard. If they did not heed the warnings from the “watch tower,” how could they give warnings to others. If they would not accept the suffering of separation that came from obedience and they rejected suffering from disobedience, how could the vines bring forth fruit.
The whole purpose of the “watch tower,” the “winepress” and the “husbandmen” was to make sure the vineyard produced the right kind of grapes. They all had to work together in harmony. This is about fruitfulness and the quality of fruit. There needs to be a fellowship and worship, to see the spiritual dangers. There needs to be those to warn, correct, prune, weed, do whatever is necessary to bring forth the full potential of the grapes. There needs to be an acceptance by the grapes. Whether Israel or the Church the principal still holds true.
I hope you find this a blessing.

LIVING THINGS – The Soul

E. C. Richards

Jesus said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” Mt. 22:32. In living things let us consider the soul of man. Gen. 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This is the Word of God, so it is true. The soul of man was created by the great God and graphically portrayed an “breathed.” The Creator can do things simply. Man must do his works frantically complicated. Only a few understand the methods, and the rest are frantic in trying to find out what is what. We call that education.

God does not ask us to understand, only to believe His Word. Notice, that the human soul is called “living.” It is the beginning of a stream of life that has not been stopped after thousands of years. It will exist forever, yet redeemed in the New Creation action by the same Maker as of the first.

Now as to the first domain of this soul, it is the earth. It has a strong earth connection. We cannot be too critical to man’s being interested in the things of this earth. That is the built-in propensity of this living soul, passed on to each of us at birth. Only God, dwelling above, and knowing what and who is above, can divert the attention from the first passion of the soul, the earth. However we cannot be totally oblivious of this earth, even its systems. Both God the Father and the Lord Jesus referred to “my soul,” so such is a part of our being in His image, Amen!

Let us consider some factors about this integral part of man. Gen. 12:13, (Abraham and Sarai in Egypt) “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” Because of Sarah, Abraham expected to live, or continue to live on earth. This shows the strong earth connection of man, even God’s people, with the earth. It has a strong consciousness of this earth. Whether digging, planting, producing plant life, buying and selling, traveling or just admiring, the earth impresses the human psyche. It crosses over into the set-ups of earth, the various segments of existence such as governments, civilizations, societies, even religions (many of which are earthly).

The soul lives and has consciousness of its environment. Also it has a sense of its own existence, or self-consciousness of its environment. By the soul, we know that we are a separate entity from other like, but distinct entities. Out of this consciousness comes our emotions toward other things around us. We have the two extremes, love and jealousy. Of course, the bad emotions are tainted with sin, for the soul, since the fall of Adam, has the poison in it.

Here are a few Scriptures revealing some emotions of the soul. I Sam. 1:10, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.” Of course, this is Hannah, who had an adversarial companion in Peninnah who taunted her because of her barrenness. “She was in bitterness of soul.” That is a forceful and nagging emotion of the soul, and can be overwhelming. She did the right thing; she prayed unto the Lord and the problem was salved. Have you ever been in bitterness of soul? Here is the remedy, praise the Lord!

I Sam. 4:10-18, we will not cite all this passage, but it is the account of the defeat of Israel by the Philistines in the time of Eli, the priest, and the fulfillment of the prophecy through young Samuel of the judgment on the house of Eli. Vs. 17, “And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of  God is taken.” Vs. 18, “And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ask of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he judged Israel forty years.” So, here another emotion killed Eli, sorrow. We all experience it sometime, and the soul is living and when wounded, only God can assuage some grief. He could not do it for Eli.

Then in I Sam. 18:1, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” So the strongest human emotion, love, is part of the soul’s possessions. Even human love, that some think is non-spiritual and something that is only a concession to the flesh nature, it really is an outflow of the soul. Marriage, friendship, brotherhood, even spiritual, is rooted in this precious human emotion that God has given the redeemed soul. These two men had a sad ending of their soul-friendship, but it was real, nevertheless.

Yet, there is a temporarily sad destiny of the soul: the sentence in the garden of the living soul to be spiritually dead. No true believer doubts the ultimate good of the Maker for this His handiwork, but it has it poignant side, the soul still living on earth sheds tears at the going of a dear soul, yet bittersweet it is, for the soul has been graduated.

Let us enter into empathy with Jacob. Gen. 35:16, “And they journeyed from  Bethel…And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni” (son of my sorrow). Yes, it must depart this earth, but it has its destination and sublime destiny because of the sacrifice of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. He said the night before he went to the cross, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful.” It was a hard thing for Him, but the way for the living soul’s glory was opened, never to be closed. Bless His name!

Next issue – Living People

UNTIL THEN

E. J. Davis

In the last verse in Song of Solomon, we read, “Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices” (meaning the fragrance of love) – 8:14. Let us compare this statement “Make haste, my Beloved,” to the phrase found in the last verses of Revelation - “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.” Then John responds, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20

This last text is the interpreter of the first. Both express the deep longing of every devoted Christian for the appearing of our Lord. My thought is this waiting period we are experiencing in our life’s journey until the day the Lord appears to take us up to be with HIM forever.

We want to understand the true spirit and limitations of this Scriptural home-longing. It is not just a discontentment with life, its business nor its trouble and hurts. We admit we do become weary at times, but these distractions are only working good for us. We are learning to overcome and ever learning our Lord’s love for us as we would in no other way. We are learning to lean on Him more and more and our love for Him grows deeper and deeper.

We don’t want to be like Elijah lying under the juniper tree and crying, “Lord let me die, because I am not better than my fathers.” Nor like Jonah sitting under his withered gourd and asking Jehovah to take away his life because he suffered a bruised reputation as a prophet when God spared repentant Nineveh.

This kind of discontent (disappointed affection, unsuccessful business, the bitter consequences of our own mistakes and misdeeds, guilt, etc.) can be found which can lead to crying out like poor Job, “I am weary of life, I would not live always.”  That is far from the spirit of Christ that is in us.

There is a true longing to be with Christ, expressed by all devoted believers. There is a ripening of the grain which makes the heads hang low and the mellow fruit ready to fall. Like Apostle Paul expressed in Phil. 1:23, “To depart and be with Christ is far better, nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”

He had a sound and wholesome readiness and gladness to be with the Lord, yet without a tinge of morbidness, he also had a real preference to remain amid the toil of life for the sake of others and for the work of the Lord.

Under all this there is a heart ever springing heavenward. Such heavenly aspirations are throughout the Bible. Yet even this does not express the meaning of the saints’ longing for home. It is not so much a desire for even heaven, but a longing for the personal coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection.

II Cor. 5:1-4 – “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked (or unclothed). For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” We expect to possess a glorified body like unto His.  I Jn. 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” I often heard my husband, Jack express the desire for his glorified body.

The body shall rise in His glorious likeness, and death shall be swallowed up of life. This is very different from the expectation of death. When scripture admonishes us to be ready it does not mean we are to be continually looking for death, but prepared to meet Him when He descends to claim His bride, to watch for His appearance.

Such a desire is not only Scriptural, but quicking and inspiring. For the heart born from above reaches ever heavenward and the unspeakable blessings it will bring. That desire will not only relieve sorrow and pain, but bring about the maturity that God desires for us to have.

But the best of such desire is of course the hope of  being with our Savior forevermore. The joy of the bride is the bridegroom, Himself. It will be blessed to see our loved ones, but that pales compared to being with our Beloved.

I like that line in one of our songs, ‘The bride eyes not her garments, but her dear Bridegrooms face.’ Lets read I Thess. 4:18 – “Comfort one another with these words…and they are Vs. 16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

To be with Him is what makes it far better to depart. Rev. 21:23, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” The Lamb is the light of the heavenly city and its glory. It is true we have Him now, but not as we shall then. We shall see His face and be in His glorious presence continually beholding His beauty. We shall commune with Him without restraint and partner with Him in His governing of the millennial world (learning and beholding the eternal results of redemption).

We think of what that day will mean for us, but do we think of what it will mean for Him, as He gazes upon the souls saved and glorified through His sufferings and love, as each bring their crowns and rewards and lay them at His Blessed feet. It is recorded in Song of Solomon 7:13 – “At our gates await all manner of fruits which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.”

Are we longing for our Lord and His appearing? If not, why not? May we invest not in this earth, but commit all our interests in the consummation of our blessed hope, the appearing of our Beloved to take us up to be with Him forever.

Soon the waiting and longing will be over. Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Our home-coming draws nigh.

The last verse in the Bible – Rev. 22:21 – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Until then!