Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: Home

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"Behold I Will Do A New Thing" Isaiah 43:19

Have you heard it said, “...there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9)  Yet, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Look, I’m going to do something new”.  Is this a contradiction in the Word of God? 

As we are about to begin a new year in the history of humanity, our thoughts reflect on the past year.  As Christians, we must ask ourselves the question, “What have I done for Christ?”  Did we minister inward or outward?  Whom did we reach with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? 

From the December issue of “The Something Better News," I came across an article by Dorcas Aid, out of Grand Rapids.  The writer was talking about a field missionary who lives in Russia and had stopped in Grand Rapids to visit the bookstores.  After a lengthy time of browsing, he was asked if he found some good books.  His reply was the following:  “You know, I walked all through that store.  Out of the thousands of new books on the shelves, I found only 14 books that focused on world missions.  Everything else seems to focus on personal meditations, personal growth, church growth, personal healing, healing marriages, and strengthening relationships and on and on and on.”  The writer then asked, “Have we traded the noble calling of the Great commission for the fleeting pleasures of the American Dream?”

            We have become an inward, pleasure seeking people.  This is not new, as Ecclesiastes would tell us.  From the dawn of history, man has sought pleasure for himself.  Today, more than ever, we understand what the apostle Paul was telling Timothy.  “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--”  (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

            Men cannot be ‘lovers of self’ and also reach out to others.  Can they share the importance of the gospel and love only themselves. Christ left us with the great commission - “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”  (Mark 16:15)  We can only do that, if we set aside self and have care and concern about their souls.  God wants to do a “new thing” in the lives of the lost.

            In God’s Word, we find Him ‘doing a new thing’ in three groups of people.  [One] In Isaiah, he speaks of the Israelites and how he will lead them through a historical process of captivity and then return the land to them. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.  This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.”  (Isa. 43:19-21)  [Two] In New Testament times, he speaks of converts to Christianity, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)   [Three] In Revelation, he tells us about the new heaven and new earth prepared for the over comer, “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”  (Rev. 21:5)

             These three areas show God creating something new that had never been before.  Israel had been divided many times, but God promised them a time would come when the deserts would bloom and highways would cross even its barren areas.  Today, after Israel was restored as a nation (1948), through means of irrigation, desert areas now bloom with flowers and vegetables.  Tributaries of rivers run like streams in the desert.  Highways stretch from border to border of this little country.  The eyes of the world are turned towards Jerusalem. 

Christ came into this world for one purpose, to save the lost by drawing all men to him.  From the Cross of Calvary, every person who has truly believed Jesus was the Son of God, who died to set them free, was converted into a new creature.  The old fleshly nature passed away and a new inner spiritual being arose.  Only God could create a miracle that would change the inner man.

            There is one New Thing that has not yet taken place, but is sure to do so.  When the enemy is destroyed and all God’s people are with Jesus for eternity, behold, He will do a new thing; heaven and earth will be changed; will become new.  Who can accomplish that, but God Almighty, who is the Creator?  

            Today, we are still in the era of converts.   God still desires to do a ‘new thing’ in millions of unsaved people around the world.  We are the instruments to take the gift of salvation to the lost.

Time is running out for mankind.  “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”  (Luke 10:2)  We must shake off the fleshly temptations that keep us in bondage and use the time remaining to reach out to those who don’t know him.  ".behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”  (John 4:35)

            We stand at the threshold of a new year.  It may be the last year to have the freedom of Christ, as we now know it.  It may be our last year to live, or it could be the year Jesus returns.  What will he find us doing?  Will it be reading books on how to minister to our inner self or just ‘hanging on,' waiting for someone to minister to us?  It may find us with a box of tissues as we hold a big pity party.  Wouldn’t you rather be found leading someone to Christ?

At the New Year, everyone makes resolutions for self improvement. How did you do last year on fulfilling your resolutions?  Did you lead anyone to Christ last year?  Why not?  What could have been more important than that?  This year could be different.  If we all did our job, our churches would be full.

During the holidays, there is a time when all the children come home.  There may be a total of twenty-eight adults and children, but if only twenty-seven are there, it’s not complete.  The moment the last family member walks through the door, everyone hoots and hollers, “We’re all here”.   A sigh of relief escapes; they’re all safe in the fold.  Our heavenly Father feels the same way; he waits for all that belong to him to come into the fold. Then it will be ‘home going’ time. 

“He who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  (Rev. 22:20)

Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: “BEHOLD, I WILL DO A NEW THING!” (Isaiah 43:19)

Bible Teaching by Wanda Ritter: “BEHOLD, I WILL DO A NEW THING!” (Isaiah 43:19): Have you heard it said, “...there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9) Yet, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Look, I’...

"Behold, I Will Do a New Thing!" Isaiah 43:19

Have you heard it said, “...there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9)  Yet, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Look, I’m going to do something new”.  Is this a contradiction in the Word of God? 

As we are about to begin a new year in the history of humanity, our thoughts reflect on the past year.  As Christians, we must ask ourselves the question, “What have I done for Christ?”  Did we minister inward or outward?  Whom did we reach with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? 

From the December issue of “The Something Better News," I came across an article by Dorcas Aid, out of Grand Rapids.  The writer was talking about a field missionary who lives in Russia and had stopped in Grand Rapids to visit the bookstores.  After a lengthy time of browsing, he was asked if he found some good books.  His reply was the following:  “You know, I walked all through that store.  Out of the thousands of new books on the shelves, I found only 14 books that focused on world missions.  Everything else seems to focus on personal meditations, personal growth, church growth, personal healing, healing marriages, and strengthening relationships and on and on and on.”  The writer then asked, “Have we traded the noble calling of the Great commission for the fleeting pleasures of the American Dream?”

            We have become an inward, pleasure seeking people.  This is not new, as Ecclesiastes would tell us.  From the dawn of history, man has sought pleasure for himself.  Today, more than ever, we understand what the apostle Paul was telling Timothy.  “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--”  (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

            Men cannot be ‘lovers of self’ and also reach out to others.  Can they share the importance of the gospel and love only themselves. Christ left us with the great commission - “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”  (Mark 16:15)  We can only do that, if we set aside self and have care and concern about their souls.  God wants to do a “new thing” in the lives of the lost.

            In God’s Word, we find Him ‘doing a new thing’ in three groups of people.  [One] In Isaiah, he speaks of the Israelites and how he will lead them through a historical process of captivity and then return the land to them. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.  This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.”  (Isa. 43:19-21)  [Two] In New Testament times, he speaks of converts to Christianity, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)   [Three] In Revelation, he tells us about the new heaven and new earth prepared for the over comer, “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”  (Rev. 21:5)

             These three areas show God creating something new that had never been before.  Israel had been divided many times, but God promised them a time would come when the deserts would bloom and highways would cross even its barren areas.  Today, after Israel was restored as a nation (1948), through means of irrigation, desert areas now bloom with flowers and vegetables.  Tributaries of rivers run like streams in the desert.  Highways stretch from border to border of this little country.  The eyes of the world are turned towards Jerusalem. 
            Christ came into this world for one purpose, to save the lost by drawing all men to him.  From the Cross of Calvary, every person who has truly believed Jesus was the Son of God, who died to set them free, was converted into a new creature.  The old fleshly nature passed away and a new inner spiritual being arose.  Only God could create a miracle that would change the inner man.

            There is one New Thing that has not yet taken place, but is sure to do so.  When the enemy is destroyed and all God’s people are with Jesus for eternity, behold, He will do a new thing; heaven and earth will be changed; will become new.  Who can accomplish that, but God Almighty, who is the Creator?  

            Today, we are still in the era of converts.   God still desires to do a ‘new thing’ in millions of unsaved people around the world.  We are the instruments to take the gift of salvation to the lost.

Time is running out for mankind.  “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”  (Luke 10:2)  We must shake off the fleshly temptations that keep us in bondage and use the time remaining to reach out to those who don’t know him.  ".behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”  (John 4:35)

            We stand at the threshold of a new year.  It may be the last year to have the freedom of Christ, as we now know it.  It may be our last year to live, or it could be the year Jesus returns.  What will he find us doing?  Will it be reading books on how to minister to our inner self or just ‘hanging on,' waiting for someone to minister to us?  It may find us with a box of tissues as we hold a big pity party.  Wouldn’t you rather be found leading someone to Christ?

At the New Year, everyone makes resolutions for self improvement. How did you do last year on fulfilling your resolutions?  Did you lead anyone to Christ last year?  Why not?  What could have been more important than that?  This year could be different.  If we all did our job, our churches would be full.

During the holidays, there is a time when all the children come home.  There may be a total of twenty-eight adults and children, but if only twenty-seven are there, it’s not complete.  The moment the last family member walks through the door, everyone hoots and hollers, “We’re all here”.   A sigh of relief escapes; they’re all safe in the fold.  Our heavenly Father feels the same way; he waits for all that belong to him to come into the fold. Then it will be ‘home going’ time. 

“He who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  (Rev. 22:20)

“BEHOLD, I WILL DO A NEW THING!” (Isaiah 43:19)

Have you heard it said, “...there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9)  Yet, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Look, I’m going to do something new”.  Is this a contradiction in the Word of God? 

As we are about to begin a new year in the history of humanity, our thoughts reflect on the past year.  As Christians, we must ask ourselves the question, “What have I done for Christ?”  Did we minister inward or outward?  Whom did we reach with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? 

From the December issue of “The Something Better News," I came across an article by Dorcas Aid, out of Grand Rapids.  The writer was talking about a field missionary who lives in Russia and had stopped in Grand Rapids to visit the bookstores.  After a lengthy time of browsing, he was asked if he found some good books.  His reply was the following:  “You know, I walked all through that store.  Out of the thousands of new books on the shelves, I found only 14 books that focused on world missions.  Everything else seems to focus on personal meditations, personal growth, church growth, personal healing, healing marriages, and strengthening relationships and on and on and on.”  The writer then asked, “Have we traded the noble calling of the Great commission for the fleeting pleasures of the American Dream?”

            We have become an inward, pleasure seeking people.  This is not new, as Ecclesiastes would tell us.  From the dawn of history, man has sought pleasure for himself.  Today, more than ever, we understand what the apostle Paul was telling Timothy.  “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--”  (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

            Men cannot be ‘lovers of self’ and also reach out to others.  Can they share the importance of the gospel and love only themselves. Christ left us with the great commission - “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”  (Mark 16:15)  We can only do that, if we set aside self and have care and concern about their souls.  God wants to do a “new thing” in the lives of the lost.

            In God’s Word, we find Him ‘doing a new thing’ in three groups of people.  [One] In Isaiah, he speaks of the Israelites and how he will lead them through a historical process of captivity and then return the land to them. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.  This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.”  (Isa. 43:19-21)  [Two] In New Testament times, he speaks of converts to Christianity, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)   [Three] In Revelation, he tells us about the new heaven and new earth prepared for the over comer, “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”  (Rev. 21:5)

             These three areas show God creating something new that had never been before.  Israel had been divided many times, but God promised them a time would come when the deserts would bloom and highways would cross even its barren areas.  Today, after Israel was restored as a nation (1948), through means of irrigation, desert areas now bloom with flowers and vegetables.  Tributaries of rivers run like streams in the desert.  Highways stretch from border to border of this little country.  The eyes of the world are turned towards Jerusalem. 
            Christ came into this world for one purpose, to save the lost by drawing all men to him.  From the Cross of Calvary, every person who has truly believed Jesus was the Son of God, who died to set them free, was converted into a new creature.  The old fleshly nature passed away and a new inner spiritual being arose.  Only God could create a miracle that would change the inner man.

            There is one New Thing that has not yet taken place, but is sure to do so.  When the enemy is destroyed and all God’s people are with Jesus for eternity, behold, He will do a new thing; heaven and earth will be changed; will become new.  Who can accomplish that, but God Almighty, who is the Creator?  

            Today, we are still in the era of converts.   God still desires to do a ‘new thing’ in millions of unsaved people around the world.  We are the instruments to take the gift of salvation to the lost.

Time is running out for mankind.  “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”  (Luke 10:2)  We must shake off the fleshly temptations that keep us in bondage and use the time remaining to reach out to those who don’t know him.  ".behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”  (John 4:35)

            We stand at the threshold of a new year.  It may be the last year to have the freedom of Christ, as we now know it.  It may be our last year to live, or it could be the year Jesus returns.  What will he find us doing?  Will it be reading books on how to minister to our inner self or just ‘hanging on,' waiting for someone to minister to us?  It may find us with a box of tissues as we hold a big pity party.  Wouldn’t you rather be found leading someone to Christ?

At the New Year, everyone makes resolutions for self improvement. How did you do last year on fulfilling your resolutions?  Did you lead anyone to Christ last year?  Why not?  What could have been more important than that?  This year could be different.  If we all did our job, our churches would be full.

During the holidays, there is a time when all the children come home.  There may be a total of twenty-eight adults and children, but if only twenty-seven are there, it’s not complete.  The moment the last family member walks through the door, everyone hoots and hollers, “We’re all here”.   A sigh of relief escapes; they’re all safe in the fold.  Our heavenly Father feels the same way; he waits for all that belong to him to come into the fold. Then it will be ‘home going’ time. 

“He who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  (Rev. 22:20)

One Christmas Morning

Over the years, there were several Christmases that stand out in my memory.  There was the Christmas morning that I awakened to find the doll I prayed for and the one when I found the white figure skates.  Another time it was a pair of skis just my size and the year there was a sled I wanted.  It seemed as though each year brought delights to my expectant heart. 

However, one Christmas morning I hold most dear.  I was probably eight or nine years old.  I don’t recall what I asked for that year, but I remember it was during war time.  Many things were very scarce and sugar was one of them. What a wonderful treat it was to smell the homemade fudge cooking on our kerosene range.   There were apples, walnuts in the shell and even a few oranges in a bowl on the kitchen table. 

            I went to bed early and had great difficulty falling asleep due to excitement.  Mother had told me that Santa probably would not be able to leave much, because of the war, but as he had never failed to stop at our house; I was still excited.   I kept thinking I heard something on the roof, but was too scared to look out my window.  Dreaming of peppermint sticks and dollies, the next thing I knew, it was morning.  Jumping out of bed and running into the living room, a wondrous sight met my eyes.  Sitting across the top of our sofa, was every doll and stuffed animal that I had and each of them was dressed in a new outfit.  Even Teddy was decked out in a new hat and scarf.  The thought that Santa had dressed all my dolls in new clothes made me feel very special. 

There were other presents under the tree, like paper dolls, books, games and colors; small inexpensive things, but it didn’t matter. I was so happy and excited as I examined each of my doll’s clothes and found some of them were made of the same material as my own clothes.  How Santa did that, I couldn’t imagine.

It was years later that I heard the story of how poor we were that Christmas and my parents couldn’t afford to buy me anything but the few little things wrapped under the tree.  My dear mother had stayed up, night after night, hand sewing little dresses, coats and nighties.  She crocheted each small sweater and scarf and even made doll shoes from cardboard covered with material.

I believe that one Christmas morning was so special, because there was so much love put into it.  The care given to the tiniest detail, like the dolls having dresses that matched mine, made it a never-to-be-forgotten day.

It reminds me of long ago, One Christmas Morning, when a new life began that was God-created.  He knew his people needed a Savior.  He had known from the beginning of time and foretold it over the years to the faithful, who were expectant.  They knew God would not let them down, but someday would visit them on planet earth.  The prophet, Isaiah, rejoiced in the coming event, years before it happened: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”   (Isa. 9:6)

Not only did the Father give His gift to mankind as promised, but he paid attention to every little detail.  The Gift was called, “Jesus” and comes from the Hebrew word, Joshua, meaning, “Yahweh delivered”.   Other names give us understanding of who he was.  Immanuel [God with us], (Matt. 1:23), Son of God (Mark 1:1), Savior [Christ the Lord]  (Luke 2:11), The Word (John 1:1-3), the Life (John 1:4), the Light (John 1:5) and the Glory of God (John 1:14).  He is also called, the Water of life, Bread of life, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth and the Life.  There are many other names referring to him that explain His character.  God did not give us this special Gift without forethought.

Without a Savior, mankind would be lost forever.  He would need tremendous power to triumph over the enemy.  He must always be there for the people, never leaving or forsaking anyone (Heb. 13:5).  Most of all he must have a love that would cause him to be willing to die for even the most un-deserving  (Luke 23:33-46).  He must have such perfect faith to be raised from the dead (Matt. 28:5-6).  He would deserve to sit at God’s right hand in heaven and intercede for those who believed on him.  (Rom. 8:34).

Finally, this wonderful Gift from God would accomplish the ultimate; he would return as the King of Kings and cause all of God’s people to leave the earth, rising to meet him in the air. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”  (I Thess. 4:16-17)

There will be a time when One Christmas Morning will arrive and likely a quarter of the population on earth will have disappeared.  What will happen that Christmas following the great disappearance?  Will there still be children in churches portraying the Nativity scene?  Will Christmas carols ring out over the air as carolers wander the streets?  Will families still gather around the tree on Christmas Eve and read from Gospel of Luke?  Will they continue to sing, “Joy to The World, The Lord Has Come” and not understand that He did?

There will be those who know what happened and will spend the day grieving for what they missed.  There will be those not wanting to believe the truth, but the nagging thought continues, that they were left behind.  There will be families where some were taken and others left - what will they celebrate?  For many, fear will replace joy and instead of gladness there will be sorrow.

One Christmas Morning, in a place of indescribable wonder and beauty, God’s children will be rejoicing for The Blessed Hope will have come.  “...we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ....” (Titus 2:13)  There will be no need for Yule trees with twinkling lights; the light of God will shine upon us. “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” (Rev. 21:11)  “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Rev. 21:23)  We won’t need to hold pageants that show the splendor of the wise men.  “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.”  (Rev. 21:24)  There will be choirs of angels singing glorious songs we have never heard, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.  In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"  (Rev. 5:11-13) 

One Christmas Morning, we will be with the Christ of Christmas, forever more!

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTIE

Almost everyone at some time has either watched Star Trek, or has seen pictures or articles about this program that first came to the television screen in 1966.  It has held its popularity for thirty years.

Why?  It looks toward a future in which humankind has achieved world peace and equality for all.  Captain James Kirk of the Enterprise made the statement, “There are always possibilities.” 

A statement like that may be the reason the program has held such an appeal for people all these years.

One of several technical items used on the early programs was similar to our cellular flip phones.  In 1966 this was a possibility; today it is a fact.  The one thing that still holds fascination for today’s “Trekkies” was the transport room where Captain Kirk, or Spock’s voice was heard from the surface of a planet saying, “Beam me up, Scottie”.  Then we would first see the beams of light that transformed into the actual person.  People in their living rooms across the country would breathe a sigh of relief, “Whew, they made it," as the outline, then the body of a crew member appeared out of the light.

For a Christian, this is not just “possibilities”, but is an absolute.  When we are obedient to God, we are constantly being transformed into God’s likeness. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  (2 Cor. 3:18)

 It is not in the realm of science fiction that we are being transformed from the darkness of the unknown, into the light of God.  We are chosen and belong to God and it is the realm of spiritual reality that we are changed into the whole person. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  (I Pet. 2: 9)   He called us out of the darkness, much like the crew of the Enterprise.  They would leave the dark of the unknown planet and suddenly find themselves in the wonderful light and safety of their ship.

In the book of Psalms, we find the writers (sons of Korah) calling out to God to send the light to them so they could be transported to the place where He dwells.  “Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.”  (Ps. 43:3)  The light of God shines out like a beacon and the truth is revealed to those who are calling out to him.  Once the Truth is revealed, there is a deep longing to draw closer to God; to know him better.

Once we are transformed by the light, we must let others see it in us, so they will also long to know our heavenly Father.  Matt. 5:16 explains this.  “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  There is a light that shines from the born again believer who communes with the Lord and walks in obedience.  Like Moses, as he came down from the mountain, or when he was in God’s presence, his face shone with the Glory of God.  He wore a veil, for the people unable to look at him.  “But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.” (Ex. 34: 34-35) 

Many of the things we see on television that seem to be beyond our human capabilities, are as nothing to God.  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  (I Cor. 2: 9)  Time travel will definitely be at “warp speed”; strange and wonderful sights will await the believer and the “Glory of God” will light the Celestial City. “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.  On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.  For that will be our eternal dwelling place.” (Rev. 21:23-25)    This makes Star Trek look like child’s play.

There are two ways for a Christian to gain access to this Celestial City.  The first is for these mortal bodies to die.  Now I want to tell you, that over the years, I have grown rather fond of this worn out, aging body. That’s how I feel about my body.  We’ve been through a lot together; I’m not ready to give it up yet. 

 It may come as a surprise for you to know that you are wearing a space suit; we just call them ‘bodies’.  The Bible is quite clear that we are aliens, or strangers, here on earth.  “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb. 1:13)

Even the Old Testament Psalmist believed that all were but visitors on earth. “Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry!  Don’t sit back, unmindful of my tears.  For I am your guest.  I am a traveler passing through the earth, as all my fathers were.” (Ps. 39:12 TLB)  It then makes sense that these ‘suits’ that allow us to live on the earth, are not fit for the kingdom of God.  Therefore, the old must pass away.

The second way to get into the Celestial City is to be taken up in the “Rapture” (meaning: a snatching away).  Even then, we must take off this earth suit and put on a new type of body.  This will happen much like you see the crew of the Enterprise transported from one place to another. However, it will be an even greater wonder, in that we will be changed into something better. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. (I Cor. 15:52) 

            You may wonder what your new body will be like.  As we see in the above scripture, it will be incorruptible, meaning free from physical decay.  It will also be just like the risen Savior’s, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil. 3:20-21)  This means several things will happen; we’ll be able to be visible or invisible, eat food (Luke 24:36-43), pass through solid material, (John 20:26) and alter our appearance (Luke 24:13-31). 

Given a choice, most Christians would choose to be changed in “a twinkling of an eye”.  Friends, the best is yet to come; it may happen today.  “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.” (I Thess. 4:16-17).  Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air, or will you be left behind?  Let us with all faith be ready to call out to him, “Beam me up, Jesus!”