Saturday Song: The Vogues, "Five O'clock World"

I know that we all look forward to the end of a workday. Even when we actually enjoy what we do, it still feels good to return home. Like that group The Vogues sang in "Five O'clock World," no one owns a piece of our time. 

Listen to the song here:

I, and most other Christians, look forward to the ultimate quitting time. Why so? We read the answer in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17 (Bible in Basic English). "Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first; Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord."

Though God cursed the ground for Adam's sake, work is still good and honourable. Ecclesiastes 2:24 (BBE) reminds us that, "There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God."

The Lord also instituted the Sabbath for our benefit as well as a reminder of his care for us. Though we now worship on the first day of the week to honour Christ's resurrection, we still need one day out of seven to recharge our emotional batteries.

Peter also declared to the people of Jerusalem this final day of rest in Acts 3:19-21 (BBE). "So then, let your hearts be changed and be turned to God, so that your sins may be completely taken away, and times of blessing may come from the Lord; And that he may send the Christ who was marked out for you from the first, even Jesus: Who is to be kept in heaven till the time when all things are put right, of which God has given word by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been from the earliest times."

What a joyful day that will be for us who love Christ. As the angel told John in Revelation 19:9 (BBE), "And he said to me, 'Put in the book, Happy are the guests at the bride-feast of the Lamb.' And he said to me, 'These are the true words of God.'"

I also feel confident that all of us who adore the Lord and his Christ echo the words of John in Revelation 22:20 (BBE). "He who gives witness to these things says, 'Truly, I come quickly.' Even so come, Lord Jesus."

In the event that day doesn't happen by Monday, I plan on posting about the nature of our nature.

What Is Our Common Salvation?

In the house church I once attended, the lay minister claimed that Jude 1:3 referred to everybody becoming saved. This Universalist idea is wrong and many scriptures refute the belief that nobody is sent to hell forever.

So what did Jude mean about our common salvation? It's open to every person who surrenders control of their lives to Christ. Peter proclaimed in Acts 2:39 (Bible in Basic English) that, "For the word of God is for you and for your children and for all those who are far off, even all those who may be marked out by the Lord our God."

In one of Christ's parables, he described the end of the age as the end of a day when a farmer hired day labourers to reap his field. We see in Matthew 20:16 (King James Version) that not everybody will be chosen to follow him. "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

Those Universalists should also read Matthew 8:29 (BBE). Even the demons knew better than to think hell didn't last forever. "And they gave a loud cry, saying, 'What have we to do with you, you Son of God? Have you come here to give us punishment before the time?'"

I've written before about Luke Chapter sixteen and how the rich man had a great gulf fixed between him and heaven so nobody could cross it. This one verse alone shows that going to hell is a one way trip.

But for us who are marked out for salvation, we won't ever depart out of Christ's glorious kingdom. As Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17 (BBE), "Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first; Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord."

If that doesn't happen by Thursday, I plan on posting about the best sort of peace.

Saturday Song: Hank Angel and His Island Devils, "E-mails Don't Have Arms"

I'm sure we can all relate to being away from some one we love. Though we have various methods of communicating, actually being there is an unsurpassed experience.

This Canadian rockabilly band wrote a country-flavoured tune a few years ago. Listen to it here.

We followers of Christ are in a similar condition. He isn't present physically with us but he gave us the Holy Spirit. John 14:16 (BBE)says, "And I will make prayer to the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you for ever, Even the Spirit of true knowledge. That Spirit the world is not able to take to its heart because it sees him not and has no knowledge of him: but you have knowledge of him, because he is ever with you and will be in you."

Jesus gave his final instructions to his disciples before he went to the cross. Naturally, they were all saddened and worried by what he said about going away. John 16:7 (BBE) reads, "But what I am saying is true: my going is for your good: for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."

In many of the letters of the New Testament, the writers expressed wishes to be present with their siblings in Christ. John wrote to a godly lady a short letter but he felt it better if he went to her in person to say what he felt. He wrote in 2 John 1:12 (BBE) that, "Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full."

Paul also wanted to be with his friends but he was constrained by the gospel to preach it all over Asia Minor and southern Europe. After giving instructions on forgiving a runaway slave, he wrote in Philemon 1:22 (BBE), "And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you."

A day will arrive when our Lord will come back to us. As 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17 (BBE) says, 'Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first; Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord."

On Monday, I'll post about sanctified deeds. They aren't done for the reasons certain people think.

Saturday Song: James Taylor, "Fire and Rain"

Family-oriented holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas can be hard on people who lost somebody through suicide or another form of death. All the happy wishes sound hollow when a loved one is missing from the traditional family gathering.

This song by James Taylor was written for a friend of his who died. Listen to it here.And though we Christians miss our loved ones who are faithful and whom God calls home, we know that we'll see them again someday. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV), "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."

And as he explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17 (KJV), "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

So, what do you think of this song and what I wrote. Please comment below. But if you don't want to, I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas. We'll all be together someday.

Saturday Song: James Taylor, "Fire and Rain"

Family-oriented holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas can be hard on people who lost somebody. All the happy wishes sound hollow when a loved one is missing from the traditional family gathering.

This song by James Taylor was written for a friend of his who died. Listen to it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ALnh3w32VE

And though we Christians miss our loved ones who are faithful and who God calls home, we know that we'll see them again someday. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV), "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."

And as he explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV), "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

So, what do you think of this song and what I wrote. Please comment below. But if you don't want to, have a blessed Christmas. We'll all be together with our Lord someday.

On Christmas Eve, I'll post about the events leading up to Christ's birth.