Nearing Home

Finished a book tonight, "Nearing Home" by Billy Graham. The subtitle of this book states, "Life, Faith, and Finishing Well". 

My wife has been asking why I decided to read this book right now, given my age and stage of life it seemed odd. However,  I would summarize my reasoning for reading this book with a line from the first chapter. On page 4 Billy Graham writes "I wonder. What home are you preparing for?"

As a follower of Christ, I am called to prepare for my heavenly home with The Lord. As a husband and a father, I am called to prepare my family for their heavenly home with The Lord.  As a pastor, I am called to prepare the people in my church for their heavenly home with The Lord. In every area, my call is to prepare. 

So, ask yourself, what home are you preparing for?

Revelation 19

Revelation chapter 19 is the first - and only place - that "Hallelujah" is found in the New Testament. Four times, in fact, within six verses. As all of heaven cries out in adoration and worship of God, "Hallelujah".

In Revelation. 19:6-7, John writes, 

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

But it's not simply the worship of "Hallelujah" that brings me excitment as I read Revelation 19 and it's not just the knowledge that all of heaven unites in this cry of celebration. What brings the most joy to my heart is the occasion of this great heavenly praise. 

John continues in Revelation 19:7-8, 

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.

This is the wedding day of Jesus Christ, the day when The Church is united with Christ in heaven for all of eternity. 

This passage speaks of the bride (The Church) being made ready. Furthermore, we read of The Church is given fine, perfectly clean, linen to wear for this wedding day. 

Many brides spend weeks, months - even years - to choose their wedding dress. I've even heard of shows devoted to saying "yes to the dress". So I know that choosing the perfect wedding dress is highly important to the bride. Yet this verse states that the perfect wedding gown will be presented to us on the day that we are united with Christ. 

And still, it's not that simple. 

You see, the final portion of verse 8 tells us more. Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.

Let's read Revelation19:6-8 in the English Standard version. Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Did you catch that last phrase? The wedding gown that we are "granted to wear" on the great wedding day - when we - The Church - are united with Christwill be our own "righteous deeds". 

As The Church we are called to be prepared for the day we are united with Christ. Likewise, it is through our righteous deeds that our wedding gown is being prepared as a perfect and spotless robe. 

So Church, let us prepare. Prepare The Way. 

The earliest prophets spoke about it. The message of John the Baptist was focused around it. The Apostles were left with the task of it. The Christian call is one that centers on it.

PREPARE THE WAY 

What does it mean for us – personally – to prepare the way? And what does it mean for us – as a body of believers – to be prepared for a revival of God’s Spirit. When a revival of God’s Spirit begins, it will first begin in us as individuals. So, if a revival of God’s Spirit begins in our church and in our community, then we must first be prepared. 

I Have Been Looking Forward To This All Week

I just sat down on the couch to watch the game I have been waiting all week to see. The Indianapolis Colts are playing the (hard-to-like) New England Patriots in the NFL playoffs. When the Colts play the Patriots it is always an exciting game, especially when they face each other in the playoffs. Add to it the fact that the Colts are playing better than they have in a long time and the fact that the Patriots have not lost a game at home all season and you have the makings of a wonderful evening.

Because this is the 7:00 game I have cleared the rest of my evening - knowing that I will be watching this game late into the night. I took an early shower, put the kids to bed a bit early, fixed a snack, grabbed a drink, and emptied my schedule. Why? Because I have been looking forward to this game all week!

On a separate note, I am looking forward to our church service tomorrow morning. Because of the winter storm last weekend we had to cancel our worship service last Sunday and it has been almost two weeks since our church family has come together for worship. Tomorrow is the first time I get to preach this new year, I've been looking forward - with great expectation - to this new series for the past three months, and the sermon that I get to preach tomorrow is one that I have been excited to preach for several weeks. Excitement, anticipation, and energy are high. I can't wait for tomorrow's worship service.

In anticipation for tomorrow's service, I have invited several individuals and families, I promoted and announced the service many times on Facebook and emails, I have confirmed the worship music and many details with our leaders, and I have reviewed and prayed over the sermon various times. Why? Because I have been looking forward to this worship service all week!

As I consider both of these events - tonight's football game and tomorrow's worship service - I wonder; "how much preparation are we giving to our worship services". Are we preparing our schedules, our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our families for an encounter with the Almighty God? Are we giving even minimal preparation before we walk in to meet with our creator. Is our preparation prior to worship adequate for The One that sustains us and waits to spend eternity with us? Is  our preparation for God comparable with the preparation we make prior to a football game - or some other activity.

Given all of this, I believe that the amount of preparation we make and the amount of anticipation we have truly shows how much of a priority it is in our life. I think this is a good illustration - a good measurement device - of the value we place on a something or someone.

So, what sort of preparation are your making prior to worshiping The Lord tomorrow? What sort of anticipation to you have to coming onto His presence in the morning?

Being Children of God

1 Peter 1:13-16 states; "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy."


There are several words that stand out as we read 1 Peter 1:13-16, but one stands out the most – "CHILDREN" – we are God’s children. Think about this remarkable truth for a moment;  It is God’s desire that we be His children.

 But, God has a broader desire than that we simply be His children.  So He gives us several adjectives in 1 Peter to tell us what kind of children He desires for us to be.

• Obedient children; Following His commands and directives for our lives – because they are what are best for us.
•  Prepared children; Prepared for action today and prepared for heaven tomorrow.
• Active children; Active in the body of Christ.
• Self-controlled children; Self-controlled and disciplined
• Hopeful children; Hopeful and faithful that Jesus Christ will return and all glory will be given to Him. 
• Alert children; Informed in the wills and ways of God - Alert and conscience of the evil in this world
• Called children; Called by God and set apart for a special purpose.
• Holy children; Without holiness no one will see God. 

Preparing for Victory

My wife and I have spent much of the week cleaning, cooking, and preparing for an open house that we are hosting tomorrow evening. We have done all of these special preparations because we want our home and to look its best and we want to provide the best atmosphere for our guests. But, in spite of all the preparations that are required for tomorrow evening, I paused for a few hours tonight to enjoy a college basketball game. My Indiana Hoosiers were hosting the Kentucky Wildcats, who are currently ranked number one in the nation.

It was quite a game and I am still reeling from the excitement after my Hoosiers pulled off a win tonight. Although the Hoosiers played at home and had a huge crowd advantage in the game, it was still a very difficult game in which a win would not have been possible if they had not come out with a plan and a desire to win.

After the game I went back to work, sweeping and mopping the floor in the kitchen and began to think, to think about preparing. The Hoosiers had to prepare for the game this evening and I have to prepare for our guests tomorrow night. In the same way, much of my job is about preparing - preparing individuals for heaven. Likewise, much of our life is about preparing - preparing for eternity.

Mercy is a means of preparing; Ephesians 2:3-5 says: "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Grace is a means of preparing; Romans 3:23-24 says: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Through the grace of Christ Jesus we are being prepared for an eternity with Him where there will be no more sin and no more suffering.

Repentance is a means of preparing; when we ask forgiveness for our sins and we turn from our wicked ways God promises to forgive us (2 Chronicles 7:14), yet if we turn back to sin God promises that He will still remain forgiving and will accept us if we repent again (Matthew 18:20-22)

Worship is a means of preparing; as we worship as individuals we prepare for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11), as we worship together we prepare for an eternity when we will gather with all tribes and peoples to worship The God that is worthy of our worship (Revelation).

In all these things, in all these ways, God is working to prepare us for an eternity in heaven that He desires to spread with us as His children. As we think of God's mercy and His grace, as we consider our repentance to and our worship of God, let us also focus on the preparation that God has for us and how we can best prepare for the eternity that He is preparing for us.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus says: "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."