Romans 4:16 “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all”
At the end of the day, as the sun lowers in the western sky, Creation speaks of the beauty of God’s splendor and beckons people to worship the Creator.
While the sun casts its receding light, the shadows grow longer and the sky changes from blue to red, then to yellow and finally dims in its brilliance.
It is during these peaceful moments that my wife and I enjoy a stroll together and allow ourselves the opportunity to catch up on the days events.
The splendor of Creation reveals a foreshadowing of things to come. As each day comes and goes, people draw nearer to their final call. Some will meet their Savior and rejoice, while others will discover how their rejection of Christ brought on them God’s wrath.
As I marvel at God’s beauty revealed in a fallen world, I can only imagine the beauty that Heaven holds for those who wait anxiously to meet their Creator. Created in perfection and unstained by sin, Heaven is a precursor of things to come.
A foreshadowing indicates that something is about to occur. Not fully representative in form, it only presents an imperfect image of what will follow.
The farther the light on the horizon, the longer the shadow falls.
We are now reaching the end of an age. The church age began with the call to follow Christ, established by Jesus’ death and resurrection, empowered by the Holy Spirit, it will conclude with the Messiah returning as He left—descending in the clouds but this time reigning on earth as King.
As the sun sets on this age, the foreshadowing of things to come becomes more apparent every day. Israel has become embroiled in continuous infighting with her enemies and the world seems to be twisting everything that was once sacred into corruption. The earth continues to shake from myriads of earthquakes and volcanoes come back to life, the foreshadowing of Christ’s return doesn’t seem far away.
Revelation 3:11-12 “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name..”
The promise Jesus made many years ago is the reminder that God’s plans will happen without delay. The world may seem dark but God is still in control. The light that shines on the horizon can either be a foreboding for those who have placed their hope in this world, or it is a reminder of how the night is almost over for those who anxiously wait for the Messiah to return.
Signs of things to Come
When Jesus first came, there were a series of events that precluded Him—In the last days, there will signs that reveal the season.
Matthew 24:30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
- Prophetic Revelation. There are over 44 major prophecies regarding the Messiah, foretold and then fulfilled perfectly in the life of Christ. Today we have witnessed the formation of the Sanhedrin and High Priest necessary for the sacrifices in the 3rd Temple. Nations are aligning, the love of many is growing cold, and there is a delusion occurring in many false churches.
- Signs in the stars. The magi witnessed the alignment of celestial events that made evident the coming Christ child. Today the heavens seem to be showing a looming change that is about to befall the earth.
- The hatred of the world. King Herod did everything he could to seek out the Messiah and murder him. Once Jesus began His ministry, the pharisees and rulers of the land likewise despised Him and sought to kill Him. Today, anti christian sentiment is growing, anti semitism is spreading, and the world’s hatred for anything that is holy is becoming more profound.
- The declaration of Praise. At Jesus’ birth, the angels sang His praise, Simeon worshipped the Lord, and creation rejoiced in the advent. Today, the church of God rejoices in knowing their redemption draws near.
- The following of the few. Many came to hear Jesus speak, few really followed Him. At His crucifixion, nearly all fled and feared for their lives. After the Spirit was imparted to His disciples, the power of God was given to the church. The church has spread the gospel far and wide and continues to be a light in the darkness.
- The blind receive sight. With the spread of the gospel, the lost are being found, and many who have never understood God’s truth are finding salvation in Christ alone.
The signs of the Son of Man are the signs we see today. Prophecy fulfilled, signs in the heavens, hatred of the world, and when Jesus appears the angels will sound the trumpets. The few who love the Lord will arise with Him and Jesus will present His church unblemished in glory.
What do you see God revealing today?
The Lord reveals His glory in and through the one who trusts in Him. God’s people are a foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit sanctifies His people and makes them Holy. Holiness is a quality that God possesses and is demonstrated in believers who have submitted to His Spirit. As Abraham took his son Isaac and offered him upon the altar, God provided a lamb as a substitutionary atonement, so Jesus became the offering for those who believe. There have been many events in history that foreshadow things to come, it is by God’s grace He gives these signs that others may follow.
Paul encouraged Timothy with a message that remains timeless.
1 Timothy 6:13-16 “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”
When Jesus appears all shadows will flee, the source of all light will shine His glory throughout the earth. As of now, God’s people reveal only a shadow of what is to come, as messengers of His love and perfection the christian focus must be an eternal focus. As this world continues to grow dark and their empty belief draws near the end, bringing hope where there is no other hope is the call of the church.
There are still those who look for hope but can’t find it by their own endeavors and so God’s people must be the light of Christ to bring hope to those who hunger and thirst for eternal life.
If you’re a believer, let your light shine wherever you may go, until the Lord returns, be found faithful….the night is almost over.
U.T. 