The Vineyard Church

I trust the 09 Challenge has been full of fresh revelation from the Scriptures for your life. Today we come close our devotionals with a look at Revelation 20-22. Every good story has a beginning, middle, and end. These chapters written by John, one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples, create a fantastic ending to the wonderful story of redemption that is woven throughout the pages of the Bible.

John provides us in chapter 20 with a glimpse of the 1,000 year reign of Christ, the defeat of Satan (the enemy of our souls), and the final judgment, known as the Great White Throne Judgment. We capture a beautiful picture of what life will be like in the new heaven and the new earth in chapter 22: “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever’” (21:3-4). “No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever” (22:3-5).

As one of the sections from the Introduction to the Bible class states (developed and written by Hal Hester), now both problems which occurred as a result of The Fall are resolved, namely: alienation from God and lost dominion are never again to be problems endured by humanity! God’s rescue mission ~ that of His people and His creation ~ is now complete!

The closing section of chapter 22 heralds Jesus’ final coming, complete with a personal invitation to all those who have ears to hear: “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book … The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life ...” (22:7, 17).

We have probably all heard that “Jesus is coming back …” Some of you, like me, may have even sung songs about this spiritual truth. I wonder how often you find yourself saying, “Yeah, sometime in the future that will probably happen…”I know that at times I too have been guilty of such a lackadaisical approach to this future reality.

However, we don’t know when this event will take place…one of the main points of the Book of Revelation, as well as the entire New Testament, is to be ready. Jesus told His disciples, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44; NIV). I find Jesus’ words quite sobering, and hear them as a shout meant to wake us from our slumber.

Not only do we need to be ready, we also have our commission to assist others with being ready…consider these passages:

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Ephesians 5:15-17; NLT).

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6; NLT).

What is it He wants us to do? What is the right response with which we are to be prepared?

I think that it is simply being ready to share my God-story with others…the love-story of how He captured my heart with His redeeming love and healed my life!

I would like to encourage you to listen to others tell you their story, and, as the Holy Spirit provides you with an open door, be ready to share your God-story with them too. Why share our God-story, the story of what He has done in our lives with others? Because it is God, “…who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4; NASB).

“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people” (22:20-21).

Kevin Hoffman