HIS TRIUMPHANT RETURN

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  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.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

King James Version

When Jesus died on the cross for your sins and for my sins, He was beaten beyond recognition, spat on, mocked and had nails pounded into His precious hands as He hung on the cross with the blood flowing down His body.  There is good news.  Jesus will never have to die for us again. Harold Lane wrote one of my favorite hymns “The Next Time He Comes”.  I’m so glad the words in this hymn are true.  

“From the lofty courts of heaven came a bud on earth to bloom, Knowing when He left His Father that His fate would be the tomb;  But the grave, it could not hold Him, angels rolled the stone away, Now the mighty Rose of Sharon is still blooming yet today.

Chorus

But the next time He comes, He won't have to die for me, The next time He comes, there won't be a Calvary; The next time He comes will begin eternity, And when He comes again, He'll be coming for me.”

Have you allowed it to go from head knowledge to heart knowledge that Jesus died for you?  This is how much He loves you.  There is no greater love than the love our precious Saviour has for us.

I watched a wedding on a family movie and when the bride came down the aisle, everyone stood up.  When Jesus comes back for us, everyone will kneel in honor and respect to Him. We read in the Bible.   “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

It brings tears of happiness to my eyes to know that one day Jesus is going to get the honor, the recognition and the respect that He so richly deserves.  If ever someone deserves to be praised and adored it is Jesus!  He is the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  All hail, King Jesus!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!  O how I love Jesus and one happy day I will have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.

                                 Joanne Lowe

                                  July 22, 2019