Job 19:25-27 (NIV)
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon
the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see
God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart
yearns within me!
Psalm 17:15 (NIV)
And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be
satisfied with seeing your likeness.
My father died
suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 44. Today as I write Quiet Contemplation
#44, I can think of no better way to respect the 44 years of my Dad’s life than
to share my faith boldly and unashamedly with others. I offer no apologies for
the length of today’s devotional; I will Write From My Heart what I feel
needs to be said.
It begins whenever I watch the cloud formations pass
by, hear the waters rushing down mountain streams, see the birds and animal
creatures in the woods, view the starry skies, or even swat that pesky fly. All
creation speaks of a supreme Creator.
Romans 1:20 (NIV)
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his
eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Water is one single
compound (H2O) yet it can be liquid, solid, or vapor. Therefore, I
have no problem understanding how One Holy God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three
distinctive persons of one triune God.
John 1:1-2, 14 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was with God in the beginning. … The Word became flesh and lived
for a while among us.
John 10:30 (NIV)
[Jesus answered,] I and the Father are one.
John 16:7 (NLT)
But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t,
the Advocate* won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. [*Comforter, Encourager, Counselor, Spirit,
Paraclete{Greek}]
When God created the
world, it was just as he planned, perfect in every regard. The world and all it
contained including man was without flaw or any need of modification.
Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Then man took his
eyes off the Creator and focused on the creation. From that moment until this,
sin has marred what the Creator made. Thus leaving man with the need for a
Savior because the penalty for sin—all sin, any sin, in any form or to any
degree—is death.
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:19 (NLT)
Because one person [Adam] disobeyed God, many became sinners. But
because one other person [Christ] obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NIV)
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes
also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made
alive.
The world will always
complicate the simple truth. The world would have you to believe that becoming
a Christian means following a complicated list of requirements, do’s, and
don’ts. Yet accepting Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is the simple
action of asking.
Romans 10:9-10, 13 (NIV)
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with
your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that
you confess and are saved. … For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.”
I close each devotion
with a prayer and the declaration that I am a Resurrection Christian because I
believe that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we will also be
resurrected at the second coming of Christ. Therefore, I am looking for the
blessed hope of Christ’s return because it is then that the resurrection will
take place. This will not be a quiet or secretive event, but audible and
visible to all.
1 Corinthians 15:52 (NIV)
For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and
we will be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead
in Christ will rise first.
Revelation 1:7 (NIV)
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even
those who pierced him…
Revelation 1:7 (NLT)
Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see
him—even those who pierced him.
The return of Christ
is imminent and time as we know it is drawing to a close. There is no time to
waste, accept his call today.
Revelation 22:20 (NIV)
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Your creation was
perfect. Yet even as you created man and gave him the ability to make choices,
you also created the plan to rescue us from our failed choices. We thank you
for the gift of salvation through your One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. By his
death and resurrection, we too have a future hope of glory with you. Forgive us
when we fail you and strengthen our resolve to follow you.
In Christ’s name we
pray, Amen.
Respectfully written and submitted by
Dotty Willmon, Resurrection Christian—looking for the blessed hope of
Christ’s return!
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