Saturday, July 19, 2014

Choose God. Isaiah 25-26; Revelation 12

May the mumbling commence!

God is the Great Provider.  God is our Rock.  Let’s trust in the Lord for all our needs.  God is good.  Read from Isaiah chapter twenty-five:

But to the poor, O Lord, you are a refuge from the storm. To the needy in distress, you are a shelter from the rain and the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. You cool the land with the shade of a cloud. So the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled
In Jerusalem, the Lord Almighty will spread a wonderful feast for everyone around the world. It will be a delicious feast of good food, with clear, well-aged wine and choice beef.  In that day he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.  He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken! (Verses 4-8)

The oppression of humanity will not outlast God’s love.  Storms will be calmed.  Shelter will be abundant.  The raging of the nations will be silenced… stilled.

And just look at what the Lord has prepared!  A wonderful feast for everyone is spread before us.  Good food aplenty!  And the pall of death will be forever lifted.  The gaping jaws of death will be swallowed up.  No more tears!  No more insults or mockery!

What a promise to look forward to!  Praise the Lord!  Hallelujah!  The battle is won.  Read from Revelation chapter twelve:

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels.  And the dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven.  This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels. 
Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
"It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night.  And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die.  Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time." (Verses 7-12)

God wins.  It’s that simple.  God wins through the sacrifice of the Lamb.  God wins through the testimony of angels and humanity.  God wins when we are willing to do the will of the Lord despite mortal danger.

Rejoice!  Rejoice!

And beware.  The devil knows his time is limited.  And Satan wants to take down as many people with him as he can.

So let’s choose a side.  I don’t know about you, but I choose the Lord… the winning side.

Enough mumbling for now…


Peace Out

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