15 December 2009
Psalm 45; Zech. 2:1-13; Rev. 3:14-22; Matt. 24:32-44

What a glorious promise this prophetic word is! A man with a measuring rod is going out to lay out the plan of the rebuilt city and an angel says, in essence, don’t bother, the city you build won’t be big enough to hold all those who will come and live here. The Lord promises greatness such as the city has never seen and punishment for the nations who had plundered her. It is a wonderful thing to think of being the apple of God’s eye. John saw this same vision and described it in Revelation 21 when he saw the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, its architect and builder God Himself.

Jesus continues to speak of the end of time. His comparison is with the days of Noah, and Genesis 6 tells us that the land was filled with sinfulness, the only intention of man’s heart was only evil all the time. In our world today we can see that reality on a daily basis on the news and the internet. Jesus warns us to be prepared and stay awake for that day is coming. When God judged the earth at the time of Noah, only he was found righteous enough to be the seed of the new creation. Our hope is in Christ alone and His righteousness, but we are called to emulate Him and live by the Spirit as a means of preparation for eternal life in His kingdom. Our pleasures are to be kingdom pleasures and our delight in Him. This life is preparation for eternity.

The letter to the church at Laodicea is almost the opposite of the letter to Philadelphia. There is nothing good in this letter. The Laodiceans are deceived in heart and mind, they do not see their own condition. I wonder sometimes about the church in the west as we have become so carnal in our desire for wealth and ease and we fail to see and address suffering and injustice all around us. Do we recognize our need or are we satisfied and therefore lukewarm?

I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.