Showing posts with label Calvary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Calvary. Show all posts

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Paradise in God's Time (song)

Do you ever dream about Heaven? Not just in the metaphorical sense, but also in the literal sense- do you ever have dreams of Heaven? I have dreamt about Heaven and the return of Jesus Christ at times. I know that my ultimate Home is there with Christ and that though I take comfort in knowing God is always with me here on earth, I know I am always a wandering stranger and foreigner passing through this alien land gone crazily awry with sin. I know God has taken care of that problem through Christ. I await the better promise of life with Christ in Heaven. And until such time, I live on earth seeking to do His will and be an agent of His change for the world, to show the world the kingdom of God as it reigns now and always has and will in the future. And that calls for endurance on the part of the saints. As James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." And I know that everything that happens to me is tailor-made by God and is all part of His plan. One day, I will be walking the streets of gold by the sea of glass in eternal peace and joy knowing as I am known and serving The Lord forevermore infinitely better than I try to now- and it's all only through faith in Jesus, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. He died on the cross to pay for all sins for all time and all who put their faith in Him and follow Him have crossed from death to life and can know that they have been rescued from Hell and are instead destined for Heaven. And Jesus makes all things new!
I know that because of Jesus' grace and my demonstrated faith in Him, I will one day be in Paradise in God's time. Of course, there are times in the here and now on earth when I like to think of what it will be like and I'm gone to Paradise in my mind. :-) One day the faith will be sight- praise The Lord!

"Paradise in God's Time"
(parody of "Carolina in my Mind" by James Taylor; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 4/7/2015)
(James 1:2-4 and 12, 2 Corinthians 6:2, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Romans 10:8-9, Philippians 1:21-30 and 3:8-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:49-58, Luke 23:39-43, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and 17, Romans 13:11-12, Hebrews 12:1-4, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21-22)

In my mind I'm gone to Paradise- yeah!
Can't you see The Son shine?
Can't you just feel all good inside?
And it's just like the ending line
To "Once Upon a Time"
Yes, I'm going to Paradise, yeah- in God's time

Heaven- read Revelation
First earth passed away and like a bride
New Jerusalem in 21
God wipes all tears away from us
No crying when we're
Gone to Paradise, yeah- in God's time

There ain't no pain and no one's dying
With God, the former things are gone
He makes all things new- verse 5
And we'll praise Lord Christ forever
No dying when we're
Gone to Paradise, yeah- in God's time

And the light is God in Paradise, yeah
We don't need the sun to shine
'Cause Jesus is the Lamp light
Me and Jesus- we've been friends (a) long time
To see Him for first time-
Yes, I'm agog in Paradise (yeah) in God's time

Guarding angels at gates outside
12 tribes inscribed on them by a high, great wall
It keeps outside the dogs and liars
The seers, killers, immoral- won't
Be going- not going
They're gone to lake of fire for all time

With The Holy Ghost just constantly hounding
While I was in darkness and aloof
And I reached to Him, throwing all my sins to Calvary
Jesus forgave me- now I'm up and going to
Paradise, yeah- for all time

In God's time, I'm going to Paradise, yeah!
Can't you see the Son shine?
Can't you just feel all good inside?
And it's just like the ending line
To "Once Upon a Time"
Yes, I'm going to Paradise, yeah- in God's time
Going to Paradise, yeah- all through Christ
And I'm going to Paradise, yeah- for all time
Going to Paradise, yeah- in God's time
Home with God- I'm going!
Take Christ's grace and join me- come and go Home now
Got to carry on 'til last day- then I'm gone

.....................................................................................

Monday, May 4, 2015

Look at the stars- look how they shine for you

May the 4th. verses of Micah 5, 2 Corinthians 5 and 1 John 5 be with you.
"And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of The Lord, in the majesty of the Name of The Lord His God. And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth." (Micah 5:4)
"For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened- not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up ...by life." (2 Corinthians 5:4)
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith." (1 John 5:4)
The wars of the stars is over. ("From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera."- Judges 5:20)
And all the stars will praise The Victor- The Lord Jesus Christ who rules over all and binds the whole universe together. (Colossians 1:15-17)
"This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name:" (Jeremiah 31:35)
"Praise Him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars." (Psalms 148:3)
And though the dark side may feel like its won at times, that phantom menace will fall one day for good- it is under attack and though it may be allowed to have revenge for a brief while- there is a new hope. The dark and light have been battling since the one who tried to ascend above the stars had his fall. ("Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the Lord." [Obadiah 1:4])
And that Babylonian empire struck back at Calvary, but the return of Jesus from the grave won the war for good. Sin and its penalty is defeated. And one day, He will come again and the dead in Christ will be awakened and those alive who have put faith in Him will be together with Him forever.
The One who holds the seven stars in His hand also holds the keys of death and Hades and He is alive forevermore! He has won the cosmic battle of the ages and those of us on His side know that we will enjoy peace with Him, both now in our hearts and lives and throughout the galaxy forever in eternity.
Until that final day, Jesus is continuing to work in us "so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky" (Philippians 2:15)
"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)