Have you ever waited for a special date? I mean a number on the calendar? When a child, December 25th for example? Or one’s birthday?

Oh, how time can seem to barely crawl, dragging along at a mere snail’s pace!

A week can seem like a month! And a month like a year!

And this particular phenomenon of time is all the more dramatic when I read verses like the well-known John 3:16.

I’m sure you’ve memorized it … “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE.” (Notice the deliberately capitalized words, please.)

This expression means “reaching into an era that never ends!” Where there will never be the 25th of any month! Not even a calendar on the wall of a single mansion! Wonder of wonders … “everlasting!”

No aging it seems, either! Perennially alive with “glorified” bodies like that of Jesus Himself, the Resurrected and Ascended Lord Jesus! Like Him, Preacher Bagwell?

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change OUR vile body, that it may be fashioned LIKE UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21, what a Promise!

Wow!

This is exactly what Jesus offers to those who believe … “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER PERISH.” John 10:28, there it is again! Irregardless of time, which may not even exist in that indescribable eternal state! In Heaven, in Glory!

Now, think of the longest week you ever lived, or month or year! Then compound that time span into infinity (or further if possible). And that’s how long we will be in Heaven with Jesus! (Technically in New Jerusalem, according to Revelation chapters 21 and 22.)

What Bliss!

Yes, once Jesus comes to get us … “And so shall we EVER be with the Lord.” Thus Paul writes in 1st Thessalonians 4:17.

But there is a correspondingly bleak side to this Truth, horrible to contemplate! For those who know not God, who have rejected Jesus His Son … “They shall be punished with EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2nd Thessalonians 1:9, what horror of horrors! Never ending destruction!

No “end” in sight, because “ends” do not exist in eternity!

Think … the next time the clock or calendar just barely “inches” along in your life! Then transfer that earthly thought into a heavenly (or hellish) thought! WHERE WILL YOU LIVE ETERNALLY?

Which brings us right back to where we stated, John 3:16!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” What a verse!

Now, think (ponder, pray) some more, dear friends!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Listen to Jesus preach, teach … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but IS PASSED from death unto life.” John 5:24

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Of course, that can be said of all the Bible’s 31,102 verses! Each being divinely inspired, inerrant (without mistake).

But this morning I specifically mean 1st Peter 5:7 … “Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you.”

While not a command, the word “casting” is a participle, not an imperative verb … the verse still gives great advice! Essential to pursuing a worry-free life!

The noun “care” is, in fact, a synonym for “worry.” For any kind of “distraction.” Anything that “pulls you apart” mentally, emotionally, etc. (Personally, I am fighting one of those battles this very morning!)

The action word used here in our verse, “casting” simply means “to hurl!” That is, ‘to throw, to toss!”

The implication is that Jesus is big enough, strong enough, and “loving” enough (yes, He “cares” that much for us) to handle every load, burden, weight (worry) we toss onto him!

Wow!

What an invitation!

Excuse me, I think I’ll go right now and do some “casting!”

What a wonderful Saviour we serve!

Again I say, He cares!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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God’s Name is paramount to the Believer in Christ. We refuse to take it in vain, in obedience to Deuteronomy 5:11, for example.

So there is little wonder than Psalm 66:2 tells us to “Sing forth the honour of his name.”

Wow!

In fact, this verb “to sing” here is in Hebrew a PIEL stem imperative, commanding us to vigorously, emotionally, energetically sing praise to His Name!

Now today I’d like to suggest a little “project” for each of us. Pick a Chrisitan hymn, even a chorus would do … and throughout your waking hours … obey this verse. Hum or sing or listen to its words, uplifting our dear Lord’s Name!

I think I am choosing the song “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing!” It seems to fit the criteria Psalm 66:2 asks.

Certainly “How Great Thou Art” does!

How about “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” … for sure!

There’s even one called “His Name is Wonderful!”

Nearly unlimited choices!

Of all the world’s so-called “religions,” Christianity has the greatest hymnody. No contest! 

The noun “honour” used of His Name in our little Text is “kabod” and means “glory, splendor, dignity, reverence.”

There are multiple reasons why His Name is so Holy … a major one being this: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Here’s another: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”  Sounds serious, Exodus 20:7 does.

Oh yes, the remainder of Psalm 66:2 … “Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” (The words “honour” and “glorious” are identical in Hebrew, “kabod” as I said!)

Dear readers, have a great day, enjoying HIS NAME!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I really believe the Devil knows less than we sometimes imagine. Granted … he may be smart in many areas, but he is NOT omniscient (knowing all) like our great God!

I do not think he can read our minds.

I do not think he can operate in this old world (sinful as it is) with total liberty! (God certainly limited what Satan could so to the Patriarch Job, one of the Old Testament’s heroes.)

I do not think Satan knows what God is planning to do next!

My list could continue.

But one thing I’m sure he does know, though perhaps only in generalities. It’s explained in Revelation 12:12 … “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, BECAUSE HE KNOWETH THAT HE HATH BUT A SHORT TIME.”

See that?

He knows his time is short!

His demise approaches steadily!

Yes, as described (promised) in Revelation 20:10 … “And the DEVIL that deceived them was CAST into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be TORMENTED day and night for ever and ever.”

Actually, according to Colossians 2:15, the devil was defeated at the Cross of Calvary! Two thousand years ago!

Yet he still fights … though mortally wounded!

He’s mad.

He’s becoming more and more pernicious.

He’s destroying lives at a greater intensity maybe than ever.

And WHY?

Because of that one thing he knows … his time is short!

Christian take heart … we only have to stand against that wicked one a little while longer!

Jesus is coming again!

And while no one can say specifically when … Biblically I can say … “in a short time!”

I seriously doubt the devil is at peace tonight.

Would you be if you could already hear the roar of the flames … in the lake of fire and brimstone?

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Here’s how some future saints will overcome the devil, and it will work for us too. “And they overcame him by the BLOOD of the LAMB.” Quoting Revelation 12:11.

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Of course we do not understand all we’d like to know about that eternal city. Yet the Bible dedicates two whole chapters describing that amazing Place! Those chapters being Revelation 21 and 22. During a Revival Meeting several years ago in a little Church not far from Chattanooga, Tennessee (Ooltewah to be exact) … I preached a whole week on this Text, those two closing chapters of the Bible. The Apostle John is such a descriptive writer, plus he was being inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit!

But to the “point” of today’s Lesson … our Text … REVELATION 21:4 … and the calming peace it brings!

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Part of the verse I can try to explain, part I can’t.

Why, after us being with Jesus for so many years (7 years while the Tribulation runs its course then 1,000 more during the Millennium) … are we still crying?

Is it over lost opportunities?

Regret at not loving Jesus more?

Or … are these tears of joy?

Or does this help? The verb “wipe away” can mean “to erase,” suggesting that all tears, all crying, all heartache have been removed from the realm of possibility! This very fact is immediately taught in our Verse, “and there shall be no more crying.”

Anyway, the first Line of Revelation 21:4 does tell us that Jesus cares! That He did not ascent to Heaven (after His Resurrection) to retire! To quit serving, working for His people! He is still our Comforter, our Advocate!

Now … to the part of the verse I do understand, though in a limited sense I imagine.

“And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” The list speaks for itself!

A City with no funerals!

A City with no medicine for emotional distress, no sorrow!

A City where a wail (any kind of weeping) will never be heard!

A City with no aspirin, not to mention other analgesics! No pan!

A City with other hint of sin either, other than the wounds in Jesus’ Hands and Feet and Side! Nail “prints” John 20:25 calls them! All “former things” ae passed away!

Whatever you are fearing today … it will be gone in Glory, in the New Jerusalem!

Gone forever, I might add!

Let this verse further endear Heaven to your hearts.

But for this main reason … the Tear-Dryer is there, our precious Lord Jesus Christ!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Just as one day God “spoke” the worlds into existence (Hebrews 11:3), some day God will “speak” out of existence “death, sorrow, crying, pain,” and that long list has just begun, “all former things!”

Gone!

Hallelujah!

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