Friday April 4, 2014

Read Revelation 20
Have you ever wanted to give up? Have you ever felt so down and out that walking away and throwing in the towel seemed to be the best and only option? Have you ever felt such despair that you just didn’t care anymore? I think all of us have been there at some point. Most of us have felt the despair and anguish of knowing that we have nothing left to give.

It’s in these times that we need to remember and recall the end point to which we are headed. Revelation takes us to the end and shows us what is coming.

At the end of time the devil will be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur. He’ll be tormented day and night. The beast and false prophet who led the entire world astray will already have been thrown into this lake. Evil is almost completely done away with. Then books will be opened and all peoples will be judged according to what they have done. At this point in time all evil, all sin, all people who have worked for their own good or for negative purposes will be judged and condemned.

Good will prevail. God’s will shall be done. Truth shall reign and perfection will be ushered in.

At that time, all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be ushered into the new heaven/earth (pictured as a golden city coming from the heavens) and they will dwell with God for all eternity. That world is the perfect world you know exists. That is the perfect world you dream of. In this world there will be no crying or mourning. There will be no pain. There will be nothing that causes pain or heartache or mourning. Death will have been swallowed up in victory!

This future is no mere whimsical fantasy. It is not a “wish upon a star” mentality. This is the reality that this world is headed towards. God will prevail. He will win. He will usher in that perfect creation once judgment has been metered out.

For now, you and I need to keep our hearts and minds focused on that coming reality. We need to cast our hopes forward to that certain day when all will be set right. When we are down or anxious or feeling like throwing in the towel we need to rest secure and assured in God’s perfect future.

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Why is it important to keep focused on the sure will of God bringing in the final judgment and paradise? 
2. How can you keep this focus daily in your life?
3. How can you encourage others to keep this focus?

Prayer:
Having read today’s passages, jot down 2 points for each type of prayer.
Adoration:

Confess: 

Thanks

Supplication:

• Pray for our youth group as it meets regularly during term on Friday nights. Ask God to grow the youth in their faith, knowledge of Him and in their willingness to shine the light of Jesus and to make disciples.
• Pray that our Sonday service would be glorifying to God and edifying to the saints. Pray that we would see growth both internally and numerically this Sonday.