Saturday, January 6, 2018

January 7, 2018

"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from all nations and provinces and languages, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God upon the throne, and from the Lamb.” And now all the angels were crowding around the throne and around the Elders and the four Living Beings, and falling face down before the throne and worshiping God. “Amen!” they said. “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and forever. Amen!” Then one of the twenty-four Elders asked me, “Do you know who these are, who are clothed in white, and where they come from?” “No, sir,” I replied. “Please tell me.”“These are the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation,” he said; “they washed their robes and whitened them by the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are here before the throne of God, serving him day and night in his temple. The one sitting on the throne will shelter them;  they will never be hungry again, nor thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat. For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away.” Revelation 7:9-17
I have occasionally asked, "What on earth are you doing for Heaven's sake?"
An appropriate response to that question might be, "What SHOULD we be doing on earth for Heaven's sake?"
That is precisely the question that is answered in the verses above and all this week I have been unpacking the five activities happening in Heaven that should be happening on earth.
First, there is a diverse population in Heaven so we should be opposing racism and prejudice on earth.
Second, there is dynamic worship in Heaven so we should learn to worship well here.
Third, there will be delivery from suffering in heaven so we should be praying and working to relieve suffering.
Fourth, there will duties in heave so we should be serving in church and in the world.
Fifth, Heaven is the end of famine and fear, so we should be meeting physical and spiritual needs.
I once heard a successful man explain the "secret" to the financial fortune he had amassed through his business empire. "It is simple," he answered. "I just found a need and met it."
That is what God calls His people (us) to do in our communities and around the world. There are many needs all around us and God has unlimited supply to meet those needs. But the question is how does His supply get matched up with the needs?
The answer is through you and through me! We are the pipeline or conduit through which He is able to supply needs.
In Heaven there will be no needs! But until that day God is looking for people of faith who will see the needs around them and trust God to meet those needs through him!
Perhaps it is a fresh water well drilled in an arid country.
Maybe it is medicine to prevent malaria or dysentery.
It could be the gift of a dairy cow to provide milk, butter and cheese for a family in need.
Perhaps it is bags of rice that will feed a family for a week.
Teaching a man how to farm his land and produce a crop that will provide a nice income for his family.
Jesus once said, "Look all around you!"
You won't have to look far to find a real need you can meet. And when you do that you are practicing for Heaven! When you do that His Kingdom comes to earth!