Pain Changes Plans but not the Promise
The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is often over looked. We spend quality time looking at His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and the Empty Grave. Between Monday and Sunday, Jesus was busy. He issued challenges to the Jewish leaders. He taught lesson on marriage in heaven, paying taxes, and His authority. Jesus also spent much of this time preparing the disciple to live after the resurrection.
Matthew 24 contains the reality of living for Jesus in a sinful earth. The Church is to expect great tribulations (v. 21). Every day false teaching will mislead the world away form God (v. 24). Christians will experience persecution. Evil’s expression in the world brings death to God’s witness and hatred to those who love Him (v. 9). Theses pains bring the said reality that may who claim to follow the Lord will fall away (vs. 10).
Easter week is not only a celebration of Christ first coming. His passion and power over the grave draw us to look past pain to the promise of paradise. Jesus taught that "immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other" (Matthew 24:29-31).
Pain has changed my plans. Months ago I set aside a few days this week to rest and relax with my wife. We wanted to take a break for the chaos that normally surrounds us with hopes of spiritual and physical break. Sickness, weakness, and worry led us to put off that break for another time. There will be another day of rest coming and God will give us the power to live through this trying time.
Yes, you are living in tribulations, but the trumpet will sound. The mourning of Good Friday is grounded about with the celebration of Easter Sunday. The second coming of Jesus overshadows the struggles that we are facing. The promise of God is close. Do not loose sight of the full blessings that come with faith in the grace delivered by the empty grave.
Be consumed with Easter Worship this week. Take time to look forward. As you praise God for personal salvation, seek out the fished work of Easter that will be realized in your future resurrection. That pain you may have today will never take away God's promise of heaven.
Matt Emerson
Matthew 24 contains the reality of living for Jesus in a sinful earth. The Church is to expect great tribulations (v. 21). Every day false teaching will mislead the world away form God (v. 24). Christians will experience persecution. Evil’s expression in the world brings death to God’s witness and hatred to those who love Him (v. 9). Theses pains bring the said reality that may who claim to follow the Lord will fall away (vs. 10).
Easter week is not only a celebration of Christ first coming. His passion and power over the grave draw us to look past pain to the promise of paradise. Jesus taught that "immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other" (Matthew 24:29-31).
Pain has changed my plans. Months ago I set aside a few days this week to rest and relax with my wife. We wanted to take a break for the chaos that normally surrounds us with hopes of spiritual and physical break. Sickness, weakness, and worry led us to put off that break for another time. There will be another day of rest coming and God will give us the power to live through this trying time.
Yes, you are living in tribulations, but the trumpet will sound. The mourning of Good Friday is grounded about with the celebration of Easter Sunday. The second coming of Jesus overshadows the struggles that we are facing. The promise of God is close. Do not loose sight of the full blessings that come with faith in the grace delivered by the empty grave.
Be consumed with Easter Worship this week. Take time to look forward. As you praise God for personal salvation, seek out the fished work of Easter that will be realized in your future resurrection. That pain you may have today will never take away God's promise of heaven.
Matt Emerson