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"The Former Things"
Message
summary:
Today's
message we
look to the
future when "the
former things
have passed
away".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"And God
will wipe away
every tear
from their
eyes; there
shall be no
more death,
nor sorrow,
nor crying.
There shall be
no more pain,
for the former
things have
passed away"
(Revelation
21:4).
This
week I drove
through
Hershey and
saw the
signature
smoke stacks
to the power
plant that
once powered
the operations
of the Hershey
Chocolate
Company. The
power plant
has not been
used for many
years but the
smoke stacks
are maintained
as a visual
symbol and is
beloved by the
locals. In a
sense the
stacks are no
more than
"former
things" and
apart from
their
sentimental
value they
presently have
no purpose.
We
get a glimpse
of the bright
eternal future
awaiting those
who follow
Christ
in what the
daily text
calls "the
former things".
These former
things include
tears, death,
sorrow, crying
and pain - a
partial
summary of
those
situations and
emotions that
make our
temporal
existence on
earth a
difficult
pilgrimage.
Matt Redman's song "One Day" begins,
One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears
This
present life
is very
temporary but
it's all we've
known from the
day we drew
our first
breath. From
the
perspective of
Revelation
21:4 our
earthly
existence is
referred to as
"the former
things"
which will
pass away. A
helpful
outlook is to
be constantly,
intentionally
and
purposefully
mindful of the
blessed future
that awaits
the faithful.
Whatever you
are going
through,
pleasant or
unpleasant, be
mindful that
one day these
will be the
former things
that shall all
pass away.
When the
former things
pass away we
will see
clearly what
really
mattered most
all along.
Paul
encouraged the
Corinthians to
live with an
eternal
perspective in
their daily
lives because
"the time
is short"
(1 Corinthians
7:29). “The
things which
are seen are
temporary, but
the things
which are not
seen are
eternal”
(2 Corinthians
4:17).
One of the
reasons we are
not to love
the world is
because
Scripture
reveals that
which is in
the kingdom of
this world is
often godless,
destructive
and ultimately
transitory: "Do
not love the
world or the
things in the
world. If
anyone loves
the world, the
love of the
Father is not
in him. For
all that is in
the world—the
lust of the
flesh, the
lust of the
eyes, and the
pride of
life—is not of
the Father but
is of the
world. And the
world is
passing away,
and the lust
of it; but he
who does the
will of God
abides
forever"
(1 John
2:15-17).
While still
living in what
will become an
age of "the
former things"
let us all
seek to make a
greater
eternal
impact. A
phrase many of
us have used
fits well as
we conclude
today's
message, "Only
one life will
soon be past,
only what's
done for
Christ will
last."
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
You've given
us a mission
statement
through the
words of
Christ in
Matthew 6:33:
"Seek ye
first the
kingdom of God
and His
righteousness,
and all these
things shall
be added unto
you". We
are to pursue
Your eternal
kingdom which
includes
righteous
living in
stark contrast
to the things
of this world
where many
live only for
themselves.
Any
achievements,
accumulation
of things, or
affections of
this world
will be wholly
insignificant
when the
"former things
of this world
pass away". I
don't want to
experience the
greatest
rejection of
all time,
"Depart from
me... I never
knew you."
Instead I want
to be among
those that You
dry every tear
from their
eyes; those
who experience
no more death,
nor sorrow,
nor crying and
no more pain,
since the
former things
have passed
away. I long
to hear Your
loving words
of
affirmation,
"Well done,
good and
faithful
servant! You
were faithful
over a few
things; I will
set you over
many things.
Enter into the
joy of your
master!"
It is by the
grace of God
that we are
saved through
Jesus' shed
blood for
which we give
thanks and
pray in His
name. Amen.
Matthew 6:33
Luke 12:19-20
Matthew 7:23
Matthew 25:23
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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