corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised
in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural
body; it is raised a spiritual body.
Rev 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat
upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and
make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns;
and he had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself. And he was clothed
with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the
armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine
linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it
he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he
treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath
on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS
People say that life is not fair and that rationale subsists in the cesspool of “big people dominate little people.” Agreed; in a society, especially one where there are minimal restraints, many people can indeed usurp authority over their fellows. For example, the gentleman with the gun has a decided sway over the guy sporting only bare fists; the big-money chap usually can buy the big desirable house, car, or boat out from under the poor dude. Concepts such as “manipulation,” “persuasion,” and “power playing” are done routinely in all societies, by male and female both, legally or illegally. Life indeed is not fair.
Extortion, blackmail, and bribery are sophisticated ways to cheat folks out of what they own. Yes, we can be schooled in criminal procedure, but who is the master? Who teaches us how to swindle, bamboozle, bilk, pull the wool over somebody’s eyes, and deceive? Well, I’ve heard that jail is a good place to learn the con game. Many find out ways to “rip you off” through “good” guys who they met while running the streets. Others honed graft through friends and family.
Folks, the truth is that us humans don’t really need a lot of help in this area, because we got the stuff already built into our nature. What? You heard me. All the tricks, schemes, deceits, lies, pornographic pictures, conspiracies to hurt, ruses, and machinations reside in us already. The seeds of these were inherited at our conception; the ideas are then developed from the roots.
Let’s shift gears. So, what is missing in all of the above? Vehemently, lacking is self-respect and honor. See, the problem is a dis-credit for others but also a dis-reverence for ourselves. Down-turned eyes, eyebrows turned in, fear and emptiness cast a shadow, lips frowned, the face is sunken, hope is gone.
Psalm 34:5 says “They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.”Not just “forgiven” did salvation bring, but elevation to God’s family as Sons? Not just “translated from the kingdom of darkness,” but brought into “the kingdom of God’s dear Son,” did we come?
Friends, as they gazed they were lightened, and the countenance showed no shame. A lightened visage, what is it? Can you imagine an appearance of no shame? Paul said that “hope maketh not ashamed, for the love of God is shed abroad in their heart,” in Romans 5. Yes “hope” shows on the face. He also said, in Philippians 1. “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Paul was speaking of shame-free living with Christ, the Hope of glory, magnified on the face.
When I choose to live dishonorably toward myself or others, my old sin nature is operating. In OSN mode my memory is not guarded. With the advantage that I now give to the devil’s armies, all of the shame of my past is accessible for exposure. Feelings of humiliation, incidences of dishonor, ill-treatment from others, abuse, disrespect, rejection, manipulation and personal failings all are potentially “alive” now. I am dis-graced.
Beloved, good news! Mercy did not give us what we deserved, thankfully, but on top of that grace gave us something that we did not deserve. It gave us not a religious “second chance,” or even a new start, but instead we got royal-family-esteem. We got placement in the most prestigious home possible, the nobility and status of a prince or queen or king. In Psalm 45 “the king’s daughter is all glorious within.” We are kings and priests, in Revelation 1:6.
Sown in dishonor, we are raised in glory. Sown in weakness, we are raised in power. Sown in corruption we are raised in incorruption.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rom 8:19-22
Can you imagine, the manifestation of the Sons of God? This is the lightening, the shining, the wisdom that makes a man’s face to shine. There was no shame on their faces. Hope, hope hope!
“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
Believers, if we suffer with Him we will reign with Him, and our horses are glorious white. We follow after Him whose garment is dipped in blood and our clothes are white linen, white and clean. Can you imagine, faces shining, garments shining, bodies immaculate, resurrected, glorified, we ride with Him to battle? The King of kings and Lord of lords is our captain and His sword is enough.
Finally, the helmet is one of the hope of salvation, the Armour is one of light. Just around the corner, we will see Him as He is, and we will be like Him. Hope is real, a confident expectation; do you see yourself eating and drinking in the kingdom? It’s a wedding and you and me are the honored bride. We are in the place of esteem never to be removed; its all just around the corner friend.
Love ya
Good reminder! Love the pics!