Devotion for Peace: Healing of the Nations - Revelation 22:2b

Revelation 22:2b         On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

            There are terrible things going on in the world right now and many nations are suffering. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is horrifically intensifying. Russia and Ukraine are involved in skirmishes which may one day develop into a full scale war. Children on the US-Mexico border are dying of thirst or being inhumanely abused by drug smuggling cartels. Christians are being forced out of their homes or persecuted into denying their faith in Mosul by Islamic extremists. And in West Africa, the dreaded Ebola virus is fearfully spreading and may travel across the African continent.

            We live in fearful times. Unrest, violence, disease, famine, and war are rampantly striding across the globe. And if we add irreversible climate change to the whole planetary package, then it seems as though the 21^st century is not going to be the beginning of a wonderful new age and new world after all.

            However, this is not God’s plan for the world or its people. Through Jesus, there is the great opportunity of bringing healing to the nations. In Revelation 22, after all of the upheaval of the end times, peace reigns once more because suffering, pain, inhumanity, and even death are extinguished forever. The Earth returns to its initial Edenic state and the fruits of the Tree of Life are no longer prohibited. God’s faithful people are rewarded for their constancy; Christ’s followers are welcomed and restored into the everlasting peaceable kingdom.

            I wish that this healing of the nations would begin today. In my heart, I pray for this throughout the world. Jesus is the cure for all of the present evils on this planet. If only His Church could get its act together and fulfill the role that it was always meant to accomplish: being the Messenger of the Good News and the instrument of Christ’s Peace.

Questions for personal reflection

What areas of unrest in the world truly concern me today? Am I actively praying for peace and healing in those tormented parts of our planet?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the world is in a sorry state right now, and so much of it has been caused by our own sinful and selfish ways. We pray for Your true peace to be known all over this planet and for the healing of the nations to become an actuality. Please, Lord Jesus, come among us again and let Your powerful presence save us from ourselves. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make a comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Pentecost stained glass design called “Spirit Guide.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: SpiritG.

Salvation Devotion: The Seventh Trumpet - Revelation 11:15

Revelation 11:15         The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever."

Just as all things have their beginnings, so all things must end. The universe that we see all around us, especially in the night sky, will one day be starless and lifeless. The Milky Way, with its billions of stars, will no longer exist, and the Solar System that is home to our beautiful planet will be no more. All life will end and even humanity will be terminated.

As Christian people, we believe that the end of all things will actually come when Christ returns to Earth and He truly becomes King of our planet and Lord of our Lives. His Kingdom will be firmly established and His Sovereignty will be ceaseless. Nations and governments, peoples and races will all end. Those who are Christ’s followers will be part of the new Creation, the new World, and the new Kingdom that is to come. This will be the reward for those who remain faithful to Him throughout their lives on Earth. This will be the final destination and outcome of all who believe in Christ as their Savior, Lord, and King.

Wishful thinking will not get anyone there. Unrepentant people and disconnected hearts from God will not abide in the new Heaven and the new Earth. And no matter how unfair or how unpleasant this may sound, this is how it is. God’s sovereignty is not diminished by our partiality. Christ’s Kingdom is not compromised by our cultural beliefs.

The mission of the Church is, and always will be, Christ’s means of bringing sinners to salvation. Everything else is incidental, no matter how good, how great, or how glad it seems to us. Without salvation, a trillion good deeds ultimately mean as much as a trillion finite stars. Without salvation, a zillion good intentions still amount to zero. When the End finally comes, without salvation, there will be no new beginning. We can kick and fuss, complain and protest as much as we like, but when the Final Day arrives, only one thing will be important: our salvation in Christ.

Questions for personal reflection

Have I really repented of my sins and truly confessed them to Christ? Do I take my salvation for granted, or do I truly know that only Jesus is my Savior?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we all want to be saved and welcomed into Your Kingdom. Some of us have become careless with our Christian faith and sloppy with our ideas about salvation. Forgive us for forgetting the ultimate truth about Your presence in the world and Your ministry to all people. In Your Holy Name, we repent and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Communion drawings called “Cup of Salvation.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Cup of Salvation.

Lent Devotion: Coming Soon - Exodus 20:20

Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

            Sometimes I wonder when and where the world started to go wrong. It may be that I’m getting older and just don’t understand the times that we are living in. It could be that we’re all heading down a road that will lead to the betterment of humankind: I don’t know. It just seems to me that we’re becoming more self-centered, self-opinionated, and self-motivated than ever before. Godless behavior and brazen ways have captivated our people. There’s no more decency, respect, or courtesy. People do their own thing, go their own way, and live their own lives.

            We all love sin a bit too much these days and this is breaking down our relationships, families, and communities. It could be called amoral anarchy, religious recklessness, or fickle faithlessness. Whatever it is, at some point we’re going to have to pay the piper and deal with the consequences. There is no such thing as free freedom or cheap grace. When Jesus returns, we will be judged for what we are doing or have done; His Word will be final and there will be no appeal.

The other day, I wrote a short poem as a reminder about what we as Christians believe will happen. It’s called “Coming Soon.”

Coming Soon

There will be a time

When no one will ask,

“Is Jesus real?”

There will be a day

When guns will be silent

And humanity will heal.

There will be a year

When death is destroyed

And pain will disappear;

For there will be an hour

When the world will say,

“Jesus is here!”

Questions for personal reflection

Am I living my life for myself or God? Do I really believe that Jesus will return to judge the world?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, at times our world is spinning out of control and we are fearful for its future. Instead of loving God, many are devoted to sin. Instead of following Your way, many are making up their own paths. Keep us and guide us, lead us and protect us in Your Holy Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Celtic Cross drawings. It’s called “Celtic Sky.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8427665601_07363c1307_b.jpg