“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42 NLT)

In the beginning of time, God created Man in His image – and Man was perfect.

But Man willfully rebelled against God and sinned, knowing that it meant certain death.

The Lord, in compassion and covenant love, offered the first blood sacrifice in order to temporarily atone for sin and to cover Man with animal skins.

Then, The Lord came to earth in human form and made the eternal and final atonement for all sin, re-establishing a perfect kingdom.

Today we live in the age of the church – a dispensation of time in which there co-exists two kingdoms: the kingdoms of this world (ruled by satan), and the kingdom of God.

Very soon this age will come to an end. Jesus, the King, will come to gather His people. The trumpet will sound, the bodies of people of faith who have already died will be resurrected to new life, and every living believer will be lifted from this earth to meet Jesus and live with Him forever.

Then the earth, along with all of it’s injustices, will be brought to justice. Satan’s rule and people’s rebellion will be brought to an end. The earth as we know it will be destroyed and replaced (rebooted) with a new earth.

The culmination of our eternal victory will occur when Jesus leads us – His Church – back to the earth to forever rule and reign, which was His original intent for us.

Matthew records more of Jesus’ prophetic words:

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world —from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. (Matthew 24:30, 31 NLT)

When I think about eternity, my life comes into better perspective. Today I can face challenges with peace; I can face uncertainty with faith; I can face sorrow with joy – because I serve a King who is returning to bring justice and deliverance.

Heaven is real, and Jesus is Lord!

Father,
Thank You for loving me, for redeeming me, and for giving me hope.

I choose to walk with an eternal perspective today, anticipating the day when Jesus returns for me. Until that day, I will seek and save the lost and make disciples.

I refuse to leave this world like I found it.

In Jesus’ name, amen!