DEVOTION
God's Independence Day
By Beth Patch
700 Club Internet Producer
CBN.com
– I don’t know an American who hasn’t celebrated Independence Day in their lifetime. The smell of burgers and hotdogs sizzling on the grill outside and the bursting of fireworks in the sky become familiar on July 4th.
Except for a Bicentennial celebration in our town, I’ve never been in the midst of a July 4th party where much seriousness was given to the reason for the festivity.
We eat, maybe the Star Spangled Banner is played or the National Anthem, and then everyone watches fireworks and goes home. It’s a national holiday, so most people take the day off and go back to work the next day.
I do know of an Independence Day celebration that’s coming up that will impress the whole world. I can’t tell you the date, and you shouldn’t believe anyone who tells you they can. But, no one on earth or in heaven will miss its importance, and it will mark a day of freedom from the greatest oppressor ever.
It is the day of the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It is the beginning of real freedom, like no one has ever had before (except Adam and Eve before they sinned). Those who have believed in Christ’s atoning blood for their sins and have trusted and believed in Him, might have what an old preacher of mine used to call ‘a Hallelujah breakdown!’
As American's remember their freedom from Great Britain’s taxation and government imposed religion, this Independence Day will release Christians from the many sins that keep them entangled. Imagine, no more sickness, no more addictions, no more gossip, no more unkindness, no more anything that does not reflect the positive attributes of the love of our Father God and our Lord Jesus.
Currently, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to strengthen us, to comfort us, and to give us power through Christ’s death and resurrection. But, many Christians are still bound by one sin or another. When Jesus comes, all our negative baggage goes away. I can’t think of a better freedom than that.
Actually, the whole scene of Jesus’ return sounds so incredible that I don’t know if there are words that describe the immense emotional, spiritual, and physical response that people will have.
The Bible tells us that Jesus will return to earth just like He left, through the clouds (Acts 1: 11b), with his angels (Matt 16: 27), with the trumpet call of God (1 Thess 4: 16), and with a loud command (1 Thess 4: 16). Scripture says we will be changed in a twinkling of an eye (1 Cor 15: 52), and Jesus will destroy all dominion, authority and power (1 Cor 15: 52).
Our earthly minds are limited in their comprehension of this miraculous time. It’s a God thing, and try as we may, we can’t peg down the details on how God will accomplish the return of Jesus Christ and the destruction of evil.
But, I like to picture in my mind the sky filled with God’s mighty angels, the sound of God’s trumpet, which has to be the most beautiful and loudest sounding instrument, and our Lord Jesus shining radiantly as He leads His mighty angelic troop in the earth’s sky.
Personally, I picture myself laid out flat on my face crying tears of joy and relief with my hands raised in praise because the promised day has finally come.
I like to picture Jesus shouting with a sound that our souls will recognize as the call of our Master as He draws us to Himself in the sky. I anticipate the warm feeling of peace and acceptance overcoming me as the presence of the Lord is before me, and I go to be with the Lord for eternity.
I like to envision getting to see the victory as Christ and his angels capture Satan, and his demons and justice is completed. I know it will be more graphic and stirring than any riveting movie that Hollywood could ever think of producing.
They’ve been trying to depict the story of good versus evil for mankind and one fabulous day, God will show us the real thing on this Independence Day.
What do you picture? Are you excited about this day? How do you see yourself reacting?
Many theologians have studied the return of Christ and not all have agreed about the order of when things happen or exactly how they happen. These varied opinions on the return of Christ and the disappearance of believers from the earth have created divisions among believers who desperately want to cling to one decided order of the end times.
My response to such division is that it won’t matter how we interpret end times scriptures when God’s day of Independence comes. We won’t be divided on that day – we will all celebrate!
There may be those who are reading this who are stirred in excitement thinking about this holy Independence Day. There also may be those who aren’t sure they believe they will be part of the group that Jesus Christ will call to join Him.
My heart hurts for those of the latter group. I want you to know that you can know for sure whether you will be spending eternity with God. The Bible says we can know for sure.
1 John 5: 13 reads,
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (NIV)
Believing goes beyond an intellectual acceptance of the historical facts and beyond just looking to Christ in times of tragedy or need. Believing involves a heartfelt acceptance that you are a sinner. and that Christ truly was sinless and gave His life in place of yours as payment for your sins. He rose from death after the third day, and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God until the day of His return.
It is the beginning of a love so deep that you want to know more and more about Christ and the Bible. It places a desire in your heart to change from a person seeking to please yourself to a person seeking to please God.
If you are not sure that you have this kind of belief, I urge you to use CBN’s counseling resources and communicate openly about your situation. God has placed these counselors at CBN for this very purpose.
The down side of God’s Independence Day is that those who have not believed in Christ’s sacrifice for our lives, and have not chosen to devote their lives to loving Him will not be joining the celebration. They will be fearful and hopeless.
The Bible says that condemnation and separation from God forever awaits those who refused the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
May we all be mindful that God promised this day will come, and it will be a day of division and completion. Pray for those who do not know our Savior and tell everyone you can about the salvation and love that comes from Christ.
The Independence Day of our God will come when we least expect it and we are instructed to be ready as if it were the next moment. So, in case it happens to be today, Happy Independence Day!
Send Beth your comments
More Devotions on Spiritual Life
More on Spiritual Life
Beth Patch is The 700 Club internet producer for CBN.com. After a career in real estate, Beth followed God's leading to a career in jounalism and internet production. She resides in Chesapeake, VA, with her husband, Joe. Their four children are in their late teens and early twenties.
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
|
