The end result
Daily Reading: Revelation 11, 12, 13
Revelation 11:16-18 (NIV)
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: “We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 17 The nations were angry; and Your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding Your servants the prophets and Your saints and those who reverence Your name, both small and great – and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
Good morning!
There is something wonderful about seeing the end result. We work hard to accomplish a goal. We follow a dream, hoping to see its fruition one day. I could help but notice the wonder of end results during this Advent season. God is good, all the time.
Some believe that the twenty-four elders mentioned in Scripture represent the completion of faith. There were twelve tribes of Israel and twelve Apostles. They represent two halves of a whole, faith from beginning to the end. Jews and Gentiles together, worshipping the Lord. It is the completion of all time; one cycle, one day, one lifetime. 12 + 12 = 24. The end result will soon be here.
There were four generations gathered in our home this Christmas. I sat on the sofa, looking around at the people I love in this room, and couldn’t help but remember when I was the little one, playing on the floor, ripping pretty Christmas papers and enjoying the bliss of receiving a very special gift. I remembered the very first Christmas I spent with my husband’s family. We were dating then, and his parents gave me a large, overstuffed teddy bear. It continues to be one of my very favorite Christmas gifts. We were young. My boyfriend actually had hair then! I’m not so young anymore. I see the children we dreamed of having one day, all grown up with children of their own. Their lives are more precious than anything I could have ever imagined. There are simply no words to describe the inexpressible the joy in watching a brand new generation grow up in God’s grace and love. The end result is always worth waiting for.
Last night, we welcomed our grandson Jett home. He had only been away for a week and a half, but this boy looked like he had grown several inches. We watched him play with his Christmas treasure, and laughed at his little sister, Madison, as she took her first steps toward construction and demolition. Jett would put it together, and Maddie would tear it down. Oh, the wonder of sibling rivalry! One day, they will be good friends, sitting together on the sofa, watching their grandchildren open presents. I wonder if they will feel the very same things I’m feeling at this priceless stage of my life.
There will soon come a day when we will all experience the fruition of God’s great master plan. His completion is coming upon the world. Every generation will one day rise up and praise the Lord together. As we enter into the end of the age, we long for and embrace a brand new heaven and earth, promised to the faithful ones. It is our long-awaited eternity spent in the never ending light of our Lord. As the days of this year begin to dwindle away and we look with anticipation to the New Year ahead, may God give us His vision to see glimpses of the end result. He will bring us full circle into His master plan of life eternal.
Dream big, my friends! The very best is yet to be.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO
Pray for: completion! God has created a marvelous work in you. He has given you life, and the possibilities for a new life lived by faith. If you do not yet know Jesus Christ, this is a perfect day to ask Him to be your Savior and Lord. God is completing His work in you and me. It’s time to take a peek at the end result.
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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