A heavy cloud hangs overhead tonight. Having flown above a storm, I see this dense grayness and imagine what must be just beyond what I can see. I’ve watched the sun set outside the international airport north of Houston, Texas before taking off on my flight home only to see the sun above the horizon again. I’ve watched lightning flash in the clouds far beneath me somewhere above Louisiana but nothing else was visible in the darkness. Clouds may obscure my view but they do not change the splendor of the sun as it shines.
Nothing in all the world can alter the radiance of the Son of God as He reigns eternal.
“To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.”
Psalms 139:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.139.12.NLT
Faith in Jesus as the one and only Son of God who took on Himself the sins of the entire world on the cross and rose victorious on the third day means I can also know what is beyond this life even when I cannot see beyond my circumstances or my own understanding.
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
Titus 3:5-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/tit.3.5-7.NLT
Eternity with God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- this is the inheritance of every believer. This knowledge changes everything for a child of God. We do not work for salvation as if we could earn it. The debt has been settled by Jesus, the firstborn of many brothers, and we are the beneficiaries of this priceless treasure.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God.
First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Then we will be with the Lord forever.
So encourage each other with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.4.13-18.NLT
A heavy cloud overshadows our nation once again as we grieve with our brothers and sisters in Uvalde, Texas. Faith acknowledges that God sees and that He is always grieved by sin. He does not leave us helpless or hopeless. We do not grieve as those without hope.
Lord Jesus,
There is so much anger that stirs up violence in our world today.
I see it and I confess that I do not know what to do.
I ask You to intervene. Step in, Lord, and show Yourself mighty on behalf of the helpless as You did in ages past.
Stir up Your Spirit in Your people that we may seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)
I recognize that You are being patient, Lord, in holding back Your judgement, not wanting anyone to be destroyed but everyone to repent. (II Peter 3:9)
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)
“But we see Jesus, who as a man, lived for a short time lower than the angels and has now been crowned with glorious honor because of what he suffered in his death.
For it was by God’s grace that he experienced death’s bitterness on behalf of everyone!
Since all his “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus became human to fully identify with us.
He did this, so that he could experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death.
By embracing death Jesus sets free those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death.
This is why he had to be a man and take hold of our humanity in every way.
He made us his brothers and sisters and became our merciful and faithful King-Priest before God; as the One who removed our sins to make us one with him.
He suffered and endured every test and temptation, so that he can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.”
Hebrews 2:9, 14-15, 17-18 TPT
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