God says:
Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create! For behold, I create
Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people for gladness.
Isaiah 65:18
18 ...THAT YE MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, AND WHAT THE
RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, 19 AND WHAT [IS]
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD WHO BELIEVE,
* Good Morning! Why good? We are living in "the last days" Acts 2:17 * What's next? New Heavens and New Earth! * True believers long for release from the bondage of this life * I would like you to take a rest today * A vist to the "ages to come" in the New Heavens and the New Earth. * I urge you to be Bereans (Acts 17:11), "search the scriptures daily" * Contemplate the glorious days ahead for us as believers. * Our contemplation must fall far short - I Cor 2:91Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by His Spirit:
* The Present Problem: God's Final Solution: Our Glorious Future Life
- When Adam fell, sin, death, and decay entered the world. Ro 5:12 - In response, God cursed this creation. Gen 3:17 - God has redeemed, but we still live in a fallen an corrupt universe * All creation groans and travails in pain Ro 8:22 * ILLUSTRATION: Men's campout in the desert - a place exhibiting God's curse - Thorns! at least half a dozen plant types with thorns * ILLUSTRATION: Stolen Van * ILLUSTRATION: Hubble Space Telescope - We long for rest, but only find it temporarily * Ps 55:6 - If I had the wings of dove I would... rest * Ps 137 - We are "trapped in Babylon" * We daily face worry, frustration, enemies, pain, volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, disease, death, moth, rust, thieves, etc. Ro 8:36 * Even most well to do are not insulated from trouble * We must trust God, persevere, occupy til he comes... but * GOOD NEWS! II Cor 4:17 - our light affliction .. worketh .. glory
- TAKE HEART! Lift your heads! The King is Coming! * Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. * Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ * Signs in the sun & moon Lk 21:25 - THE CRISIS; THE LAST DAY; Christ returns in judgement! Jn 12:48 * Like lightning - Mt 24:27 * Trumpet blast - I Cor 15:52, I Th 4:16 - Jubilee! Lev 25:9 ff * Resurrection - ALL that are in the graves shall hear - Jn 5:28 * Judgement * Ps 34:16 - cut off memory of evildoers * Ps 17:4,5 - reward of wicked vs righteous * Ps 73:19 - destroyed in a moment * Redemption and restoration to our dominion of kosmos - The indescribable joy of seeing Christ coming!Is 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God... 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together.
Mal 4:2 And unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and leap like fatted calves. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I prepare, saith Jehovah of hosts.
* Ps 58:9-11 - dip feet in blood of wicked * Ps 68:22,23 - tongue of dogs...Is 33:17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Is 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Is 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and shalt be brightened, and thy heart shall throb, and be enlarged; for the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee.
- RECONSTRUCTION, God's way... * Old things are passed away; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS are become new 2Cor 5:17Re 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
* New Creation - No longer GROANING! * Ps 65, Is 55, NO CURSE! Rv 22:3Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. {come...: Heb. come upon the heart}
- Can't find the wicked anywhere! Ps 37:10
- ARE YOU AT ALL NERVOUS about what to expect? - Do you worry about what heaven will be like? - Stereotypes and Misconceptions about the New Heavens and New Earth * BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR FATHER'S LOVE FOR YOU - We are loved as the Son is loved!!! Jn 17:22 Ro 8:32 * STEREOTYPE - A cartoon-caricature heaven - CHILDREN - have you ever seen cartoons with... * Floating on clouds, white robes, harps, wings... * Big gates guarded by St. Peter... * Some scriptural basis, but ridiculed * Like a child's crayon drawing of a person - face, eyes, mouth, arms, etc. - The New Heavens and New Earth will NOT uncomfortable or strange - Paul visited heaven II Cor 12:2 - Paul said it was better to depart and be with Christ Php 1:23 - The beheaded ask "How long?" Rv 6:9 (Paul included) - THEREFORE, final state incredibly good! - Our Father's intentions toward us are entirely good and loving - CHILDREN: Have you ever asked your Mom or Dad...?Mt 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
* De 8:16 - to do thee good at thy latter end * Ps 40:5 - God's countless thoughts toward usPs 31:19 [Oh] how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men!
* Ps 65:4 - satisfied with the goodness of Thy housePs 103:5 Who is satisfying with good thy desire, Renew itself as an eagle doth thy youth.
Is 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.
* Ps 28:9 - shepherd, carry forever
Our Minds: TRANSFORMED Ro 12:1 * clarified, no confusion, no mis-programming, no second-guessing * NO indecision, no agonizing, "did I do that right?" * NO waiting for other shoe to drop
* New Resurrection Bodies - What will we be? - We will be like HimI Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Phil 3:20 ...the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
- Flesh and bone, able to eat - THE PRINCIPLE OF CONTINUITY: SAME LORDLuke 24:36 ... Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took [it], and did eat before them.
- We WILL know our friends and loved ones Lk 9:30, 16:9 * We will be ourselves, not someone elseJob 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.
* The Transfiguration: - the power and coming of ... Christ 2 Pet 1:16 - Jesus Glorified Lk 9:26 - Moses and Elijah (2 men) - Talking (spoke of death) - Travel (they departed) - Shining white clothing - Shining face, appearance changed - Bright cloud - Voice of father II Pet 1:17,18 - Bodies NOT subject to aches, pains, sickness, deathIs 25:7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. {destroy: Heb. swallow up} {cast: Heb. covered} 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it].
I Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
* Things - "He who spared not.. freely give us all things" Ro 8:32 - "All Things in Christ" Eph 1:10 - INHERITANCE in the Saints * Ps 25:13 - meek will inherit the earth (Ps 37:11, Mt. 5:5)I Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Heb 9:15 - "eternal inheritance" - Sounds like materialisim? - Be glad and rejoice forever in WHAT I CREATE" Is 65:18 - Ps 73:26 - God is ... my portion forever - Animals Ps 36:6, 50:10,11 Jonah 4:11 God the CREATOR! He is glorified in this creation, how much more in the new! Ps 104 Dinosaurs? Job 41:4 Ps 104:26 The works of God who maketh all Ec 11:5 * Ps 72:19 - may the whole earth be filled with His glory... * Ps 66:5 - awesome works * God created animals when the world was new and perfect * The Ark - the premier biblical picture of salvation - God remembered Noah, and every living thing Gn 8:1 * "and thy household" * Ps 36:6 - thou preservest man and beast * Pr 12:10 - righteous man regardeth the life of his beast * Ps 37:4-5 - delight in Lord, ... desires of thy heart * Ps 50:10,11 - every beast of the forest is mine * Ps 68:10 - creatures? settled in it * Ps 68:22,23 - tongue of dogs... * Jonah 4:11 - God spared cattle in Ninevah * Mt 10:29 - sparrowsIs 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or [being] his counsellor hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
* Treasures Mat 6:19,20 Rv 21:26 Treasures of the nations - languages, customs, Nothing good has been lost. Mt 10:39 - he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it * Geography and Surroundings (moving in 3-space) * STEREOTYPE - HEAVEN is for church, EARTH for IsraelEph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:
Eph 2:11-22 - broken wall, abolished enmity, one new man, fellowcitizens, built on same foundation, fitly framed together, etc!Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
a false heaven vs. earth dichotomy... NOT pie in the sky... - THE PRINCIPLE OF TYPES: the fulfillment is always better!I Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened to them [as] types, and have been written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
* ..heir of the kosmos Ro 4:17 Land = Earth = Kosmos Land of Canaan vs Wilderness Slavery -> Salvation -> Wilderness -> Canaan * Ps 69:29-36 - salvation, prisoners, praise, zionDe 8:7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any [thing] in it; a land whose stones [are] iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
* "..a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God" Heb 11:10 * " they without us should not be made perfect" Heb 11:40 * "..a better country, a heavenly.. he hath prepared for them a city" Heb 11:16
* EVERLASTING JOYIsa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Ps 4:7 Thou hast put joy in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their new wine was in abundance.
- Humor? "mouth filled with laughter" - Ps 126:2 * NO SIN - New heavens and a new earth, HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS II Pet 3:13 - Sin is impossible! Never again! NO: Terror - Ps 10:18, sighing, tears, sorrow, misery, loneliness, unfulfilled longings, mourning, worry, regrets, disappointments, frustration, sin - greed, avarice, hatred, malice, pain, crying Rv 21:4 * Remember Saturday mornings when you were a kid? School's out! * Joy, gladness, rejoicing, heart swelling, shouting * Ps 30:5 - shout of joy in morning * Ps 34:5 - they looked to Him and were radiant * Ps 35:27 - delight in prosperity * Memories (good and bad) Is 65:17 Rev ? * Bad memories needed to know what saved from Is 51:1 look .. to pit whence ye are digged * They will no longer sting, or have victory I Cor 15:55 * ILLUSTRATION: Warm fire, picture of rainy day * ..filling our hearts with food and gladness Acts 14:17 * STEREOTYPE - Heaven and eternity must get to be VERY DULL... - NOT EVER BORING! - A day in thy courts is better than a thousand. Ps 84:10 - The worship and service of God are truly and eternally exhilarating and joyous! * Surprise! Pr 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing... - THE PRINCIPLE OF GRADUAL REVELATION * God has not told us everything at once - I Cor 3:2 milk - not able to bear Very much different/very much the same. - reassuring comparisons and startling contrasts The same.. - bodies, loved ones, earth, heavens Different.. - bad things now taken for granted - we feel as though they will go on forever - But they will be GONE FOREVER! Mystery! Adventure! - No MALICIOUS secrecy, but rather BENEVOLENT secrecy (e.g. surprise!) Walking by faith...
* Relationships Mt 22:30 Never again a bad relationship, never a discouraging unkind word from a loved one No more arguments, disagreements No more human marriages - only ONE marriage, us and Christ Mt 22:30 * Unity with one another and with God Jn 17:20-24 Eph 5:32 - Direct communion with Christ * Conversation Lk 9:31 - STEREOTYPE: We will all be automatons, all the same... * We will all be one, but NOT identical - We will maintain our unique individuality New Names... Rv 2:17 - only known to recip. - We each have proper gifts of God Eph 4:16 * Have you ever been homesick? Summer camp? * You will never be away from "home" - "there's no place BUT home." * Ps 70:3 - Be Thou ... a rock of habitation (home) * Ps 90:1 - ..our habitation * Ps 91:9 - ..thy habitation * Ps 27:4 - dwell in Lord's house, see his beauty * We will enjoy a peaceful and permanent homeIs 33:20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle [that] shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
* Do you have a fear of strangers? - EVERYONE everywhere is part of the family - Eph 3:15
- What will we do forever? * Worship - we ARE the temple, the dwelling place of God! - Eph 2:22 * Liberty Lk 4:18 - Spirit upon me to proclaim liberty... Ro 8:21 - creation itself delivered ... glorious liberty II Cor 3:17 - Where Spirit of Lord... liberty Jn 8:36 - ..free indeed! True Freedom! * Formerly, God intervened to HINDER man's accomplishment Ge 6:5 And GOD saw... every imagination... evil continually.Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Ps 73:7 - the imaginations of their heart run riot.. * In new world, we will have clean hearts with good imaginations... - 2Co 10:5 ...captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; * Languages, language Ps 119:89 - Word of God abides forever Hebrew & Greek - Moses & Elijah talked w/ Jesus - Lk 9:30 - Speech w/ grace, seasoned w/ salt Col 4:6 - Speaking.. psalms.. hymns.. spiritual songs Eph 5:19 - Vestigial vocabulary - tired, sad, hurt... - "I don't have time" - "I can't afford it" - "I'm too tired" - Enhanced vocabulary - always, never, joy... * Politics Is 9:6 The government shall be upon his shoulder * STEREOTYPE - Man will save the world... - NOT a Humanist New Age or New World Order! * George Bush pushing NWO - NOT a church-created theocracy - Is 63:5 none to help, mine own armIs 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong [hand], and his arm shall rule for him.
- Like Adam, our dominion will be over nature - * Concerted efforts to regulate creatures, kosmos ( which may be somewhat wild, untamed ) * Naming Gen 2:19 * Ps 8 - rule work of Thy hands * Mt 21:21 ..say unto this mountain, Be thou removed * Education (learning, growth) - Proverbs is filled with praise of wisdom and knowledge as derived from the fear of the Lord - Pr 1:7, 9:10 - God gives knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom * Dan 1:17 * Fulfill potential * Do/be everything you always wanted * Time vs Eternity Rev 10:6 - Age of the Ages... Dan 7:18, Eph 3:21 * Economics and Commerce - universal prosperity, because the Lord Himself will provide all our needs. - Water to wine Jn 2:9Zec 8:12 For the seed [shall be] prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these [things].
Ezk 36:8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. 9 For, behold, I [am] for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown: 10 And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, [even] all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded: 11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better [unto you] than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.
- Money is a means of representing a person's deservingness of goods, or worth. - No doubt of worthiness in New world... - Economy based on giving, serving Lu 6:38 Mt 23:11Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Is 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
EVERYONE WILL KNOW where the wealth comes from! De 8:18 I Chr 29:16 O LORD our God, .. this store.. is all thine own. ...with joy thy people, which are present here, .. offer willingly unto thee. * WORK Ps 102:22, Rev 22:3 We will serve Jehovah Ps 102:22 Rev 22:3 NO unfinished projects - for lack of time, funding, or energy Productivity - do with might! Ec 9:10 Work decoupled from need to survive All work will be voluntary, for joy of service the joy of work permanance - Ps 90:17 Do things once - they stay done forever or 'til intentionally changedPs 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
worker keeps fruit of labor - No theft, no taxationIsa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
* Obsolete occupations: repairmen, undertakers, IRS agents, bureaucrats, morticians, doctors, dentists, policemen, soldiers, insurance, .... * Communications prayer messenger service Dan 10:11 - Gabriel to Mary Lk 1:26Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
* Travel and transportation * FLYING - At least once - "caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air" I Th 4:17 * Ez 37:1 "hand of the LORD ... carried me out" * Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip - Acts 8:39,40 * God took Enoch Ge 5:24 * God took Elijah in a chariot of fire - II Ki 2:10-12 * Paul caught up (bodily?) II Cor 12:3 * ETERNITY! You could WALK anywhere! * Recreation - music, SINGING (a new song, etc) * Ps 57:7-11 * David invented instruments of music Am 6:5 - playZec 8:5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
Mt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- exercisePs 19:5 Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. (CREATION)
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
- culture (art) * temple furnishings, etc. II Chr 2:7 * Zion, the perfection of beauty Ps 50:2 - entertainment * Visions == movies, virtual reality? - Peter, Acts 12:9 * Food and Drink - The resurrected Christ ate - Lk 24:41-43 - Jesus said he would drink new with us Lk 22:18Mt 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
- The marriage supper Rev 19:9 * we will be married to Christ Eph 5:32Is 25:6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
* Ethnic cuisine... part of glory of nations? Rv 21:26 No spoilage of food (refrigerators) No dieting, cholesterol, No unsatisfied hunger or thirst. * Health and safety - no risk! - Jesus cast out demons & healed to announce the kingdom Mt 12:28, Lk 10:9Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
exposure to/harm from inclement weather danger risks potholes defective products thornbushes, nettles, weeds (Is. 55) fleas, mosquitoes germs, harmful microorganisms poison oak, poison ivy - Nothing stings, bites, hurts hospitals, cemetaries, shrouds, tombstones, sepulchres, memorials eyeglasses, false teeth, dental crowns backaches, ingrown toenails, obesity, tooth decay, presbyopia enemies, rapists, murderers, thievesRe 22:15 For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Ultimate safety - Ps 12:5Ps 4:8 In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; for thou, Jehovah, alone makest me to dwell in safety.
the closest thing to accidents is serendipity - trial without errorIs 33:24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein [shall be] forgiven [their] iniquity.
- IF YOU HAVE ANY REMAINING DOUBTS ABOUT THE FUTURE * God is portrayed as stingy, cruel, etc. by the world... - perhaps because NOW we are in training, and must learn to be content... - We are like schoolchildren We must not see God as the world does... * Meditate on God's goodness to you already... - HYMN "Hast thou not seen how thy desires hath ere been granted in what He ordaineth?" Ps 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Ps 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: Pr 10:24 ...the desire of the righteous shall be granted. Pr 11:23 The desire of the righteous [is] only good Pr 13:12 ...[when] the desire cometh, [it is] a tree of life. Pr 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: Ps 37:4-5 - delight in Lord, ... desires of thy heart Ps 103:5 - satisfies desire w/ good Ps 21:2 - Thou hast given him his heart's desire.. the request of his lips Ps 16:5,6 - Lord my portion, lines in pleasant places! Ps 16:11 - in thy presence fullness of joy! pleasures forevermore! Ps 36:8 - river of delights Job 36:11 - years in pleasures Ps 20:4 - grant thee according to thine own heart, fulfil .. counselMt 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
"And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly
say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only
the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all
their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page:
now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which
no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every
chapter is better than the one before."
- For Believers: * Ga 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." * I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. * Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. - Play Michael Card Song "I Will Bring You Home" (2:40) - For Unbelievers: (stir to jealousy - Ro 10:19) * "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God." Heb 10:31 -But... this is your invitation: