Thou Art Worthy

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9)

Did you ever stop to think about the rapture? It's going to be something that's never happened before. You might be walking around on the street and hear the sound of the trumpet - and suddenly you're transformed! You won't know what to do or how to act. And the people lying in their graves, what'll they do? I know what they'll do - they'll sing! There's going to be singing at the consummation, on that great day!

"Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us" (Revelation 5:9) - that's the theme of the new song. The theme of the new song isn't "I am"; it's "Thou art." Notice the difference! When you look at the old hymnody of Wesley, Montgomery and Watts, it was "Thou art, O God, Thou art." But when you look at the modern hymns, it is "I am, I am, I am." It makes me sick to my stomach. Occasionally a good hymn with testimonies is all right, but we've overdone it. The song of the ransomed is going to be "Thou art worthy, O God."

I long for that day, Lord, when I can join in the singing. I await Your return, Lord Jesus. Amen

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A New Order

"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isaiah 65:17)

Amid all the world religions, only Christianity is able to proclaim the Bible's good news that God, the Creator and Redeemer, will bring a new order into being! Indeed, that is the only good news available to a fallen race today. God has promised a new order that will be of eternal duration and infused with eternal life.

How amazing!

It is a promise from God of a new order to be based upon the  qualities the exact opposite of mankind's universal blight - temporality and mortality. God promises the qualities of perfection and eternity - qualities that cannot be found anywhere on this earth.

What a prospect!

God's revelation says that Jesus Christ is the eternal Victor, triumphant over sin and death. That is why He is the Head of the new creation which has upon it the banner of eternity rather than of temporality and the mark of lie forevermore rather than the mark of death.

What a prospect, indeed! Thank You, Father, for the eternal victory of Jesus Christ. I worship You now and long for that day of completion. Amen

~A. W. Tozer~