Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Encounter With the Risen Lord
Revelation 1:1-8
Vs.7,8 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him..."   “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
When you see your Lord face to face, what do you imagine will happen?  If you were asked to paint a picture of what that initial encounter will look like, how would you draw it?
 I have many images in my mind of what that moment will be like - sometimes I imagine I will immediately fall at God's feet; sometimes I think I will just keep on staring at the Lord, weeping with joy; other times, I imagine I will be singing and dancing in praise, or maybe all three will happen. 
 Perhaps you don't dwell on what heaven and that initial meeting of God will look like because you are too bogged down with worries of your current life. Or maybe you don't think of these things because you are content with your life here on earth.
 John paints a picture of the second arrival of Christ coming down with the clouds.  He says every eye will see the Lord and that all peoples on earth will mourn (it is unknown if this is a reference to just the unbelievers or to all people). This heartbroken response is consistent with Isaiah's proclamation, "woe is me", when he encountered God, because in light of God's righteousness, his sinfulness was magnified, which led to the mourning of his transgressions (Isaiah 6). 
 But for the faithful, there is an anticipation of something better.  John reminds us that Jesus freed us from our sins by His blood. He has made us to be a Kingdom and has given us the task of being priests who will serve our God forever. This is the promise of the the everlasting, unchanging One, who existed before time and will exist forever - the ALMIGHTY.
 Doesn't this fill you with anticipation? You may not know what that initial encounter with God will look like, but whether you are in the midst of your worries, or in the midst of your contented life, or even in the middle of your greatest despair, THERE IS HOPE - a hope of spending eternity with our Creator, engaged in everlasting praise and service to our Savior.  This is what we were created for.  What a joy to look forward to for eternity!  It is a good thing to reflect on Heavenly matters, even if we don't completely know what everlasting life with our Savior will be like.
 PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for giving us a glimpse of what our encounter with You will be like.  We praise You for the hope that this promise of eternity with You instills in us. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I can only imagine when that day comes, And I find myself standing in the Son, I can only imagine when all I will do, Is forever, forever worship you, I can only imagine..." "I can only imagine" by MercyMe

Dr. Jeeji Mathunny, Epiphany MTC, NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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