Ways To Give

A Reason For Encouragement

Written by John Grant

Learn more about the end times with our study in Revelations.

“The Son of Man is going to come in the Glory of His Father with His Angels.” (Matthew 16:27)

The TV on the wall of my office is on constantly and tuned on mute to a popular news network. As I look at it throughout the day, it is a continuum of horror stories – riots, shootings, natural disasters and financial ruin.

We are engaged in wars we cannot win and greed and corruption have at all levels created a world debt that cannot be repaid.  I just watched police in riot gear clashing with hundreds of rioters, as fires were raging out of control, while looters combed the area, as the stock ticker in the bottom of the screen was showing financial markets in a free-fall.

It is with firm conviction that I believe we are near the end of our world as we know it. It is a question of what will get us first, financial collapse, weapons of mass destruction from without or moral decay from within.

From a realistic worldly perspective, there is little reason for encouragement. But, for those of us who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, His reign in glory is a comforting and thrilling promise that fills us with great hope and anticipation. Like the saints under the heavenly alter in Revelation 6:9-10, we wonder how long the Lord will allow the world to go its sinful way before intervening in sovereign power and bringing righteousness, equity and justice to the world.

With the Psalmist, I wonder “How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and may the enemy spurn your name forever?” (Psalm 74:10) As I look out at the world, I have every reason to feel defeated and discouraged, but God created me for eternal fellowship with him and through Christ gave me the key to entry for that eternal relationship.

Every day when I read the newspaper or listen to the news it is a parade of horrors, but I just finished reading Heaven Revealed, by Dr. Paul Enns and he showed me how the scriptures describe what heaven will be like and I look forward with great anticipation to enjoying it forever. I will be relieved from the aches and pains of this old body and from the disasters of this world.

Heaven is much more than a place to spend eternity. It is also the place where God and Jesus Christ the Lamb live, a place where we don’t have to see darkly as through a smoked glass, but where we can see our Lord and Redeemer face to face. He promises that forever, “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Rev. 21:3) What a fabulous promise!

Questions: How do you deal with the troubles of the world? How can you place more focus on your heavenly destination?

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