December 25
Zech 8:1-23 | PS 144:1-15 | Prov 30:29-31 | Rev 16:1-21
"Tomorrow is a new day". There are many "feel-good" statements like this that are made, and there is some truth to this for the most part. Finality scares people, and many do all they can do to avoid thinking of it. People crave normalcy. People strongly desire to be liked and to fit into society as part of the majority. The reality is we can do little about decisions that we have made in the past and their consequences, but we do have the ability to move forward, and at times even change course. But we should never allow this to lull us into complacency. This year. perhaps there is someone missing from your holiday celebration. Though God's story spans approximately 6000 years, before the Millennial Kingdom, we do read these sobering words in Revelation 16:17, "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”" Not tomorrow. Not soon. Finality, with no do-overs. We read in 16:15, from Jesus, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
We read in Zechariah 8:11-12, speaking of the future Jerusalem, "But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts. For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew - I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these." We must stop trying to fit in, go unnoticed, caring about getting likes on worldly posts on social media, in other words, being part of the majority. The majority loses. The remnant wins. The majority is blind. The remnant sees. The hearts of the majority are hardened, as we see the majority response to the final bowl plagues during the Great Tribulation in Revelation 16:9, "And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory."
We read in Psalm 144:3-4, "Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him? Man is like a breath, His days are like a passing shadow." Being in God's remnant will not make you popular in this world. But when one considers the 6000-year history of this world, our lives are relatively short. There is a time when "It is done" for each of us. Now, our Savior uttered these words from the cross (John 19:30), settling our account for us, if we will only repent and accept His offer. Yes, tomorrow is another day, but is it guaranteed? Each day that we postpone this decision for Him, this decision to become part of God's remnant, our hearts become a little more hardened and fixed. Normalcy and the majority which might at first bother you starts to feel okay. This might not seem the feel-good Christmas message that many would like on a day like this, but cease this day, as we consider the depth of God's love in sending His Son to earth for us, Jesus, God is Salvation. This is Who we celebrate this day. Accepting Him, truly accepting Him, not just the traditions, seeing our unworthiness in the face of such beauty and love brings life to any who will humble themselves and receive.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: