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My Psalm 334 is title “Glory” This is a term that brings me satisfaction. One of my favorite books I completed is called “Live-Changing Water: Chaos to Glory” because it traces God’s providential story of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. He brought chaos to glory through the salvation message of Jesus Christ. I am so happy to be one of Jesus’ followers, and so look forward to the glory of eternity where I can worship Him for the gift of salvation. There will be no more tears, no more death, because Jesus overcame the specter of the devil’s wishes here on earth.
Headlines today talk of riots in France, threats of nuclear war from Russia, the arrest of two principals on DUI charges, murders, slander, character assassination, government scandals, and ongoing war in Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and persecution of Christians, Jews, Muslims, evil cartels, and worldwide pandemic. Certainly there is evidence of chaos.
Meanwhile, a blessed lady from our church lies in hospice, so looking forward to meeting Jesus. Her friends and brothers and sisters pray for her peaceful rest in Jesus. My family listened to “heavenly music yesterday, enthralled with how music can help us ascend, just for a little while, the troubles we’re dealing with. A masterful sermon yesterday, delivered by our church’s youth pastor, showed us the Who, What, Where, When, Why of the gospel message. No one present could have missed the point of the Colossians passage outlining the mystery of Christ. In a week, we remind ourselves of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, and the passion of Holy Week, the Crucifixion, and the amazing resurrection of Easter’s triumph over death. The days of Lent’s preparation lead us to the cross and the reality of Glory.
Like the generations before us, millions of Christians from all nations, tribes, languages, and peoples will celebrate the risen Lord and, indeed, our own salvation from this world’s efforts of Satan’s limited power. I say limited, because God is sovereign, the devil is restrained until his followers who reject Christ will experience the eternal chaos he has caused. Hellfire and the complete absence of God’s redemption will result from rejection of the Chaos to Glory message available to all. John 3:16-21 puts it this way: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
I stand for the glory side of this picture, thankfully, because the Holy Spirit and countless clouds of witnesses proclaimed Jesus to my heart. My prayer is that you, too, have answered that call to live for Jesus, and nothing in this world can overcome God’s sovereign power through Jesus.
MY PSALM 334 GLORY
Dear Lord and Heavenly Father
I rejoice that one day this mortal life will end
And You have promised I will live with You in Glory.
I love mystery, and You tell us
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
What You have prepared for us.
If the glory of Your heavens,
And the beauty of every detail of creation
Is a clue to that final revelation,
We will bow at Your feet in utter amazement.
If the gorgeous face of a newborn grandchild
And the smile wrinkles on my lover’s face
Are any indication of beauty,
I am prepared to be stunned by what is next.
I, with my hearing impairment, miss sounds easily,
I who have sung with magnificent large choirs
With orchestras and organs and cymbals and strings
Will be in awe of heavenly voices singing Your praises.
I who write and love to combine word images
Will falter when it comes to expressing the magnificence
Of Heaven’s glory.
You will paint for me more beautiful sunrises and sunsets
With Your radiant colors, jewel tones we cannot fathom.
For with You, all is perfection. All is without sin’s taint.
All is without filters and dim images.
For Jesus is the only Light we’ll see
His is the only spectacular brilliance
For He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Reigning forever in Glory.
“I can only imagine” and look forward to the reality
Of being in Your Presence.
Thank You, Jesus, for making it possible
To inherit the kingdom as one of Your own.
Meanwhile, I’ll share Your promise with readers
And those in my sphere of influence,
Those You send to me so I can share glimpses
Of the truth You promise Your sons and daughters.
In Your Perfect Name and for Your Glory. Amen.
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