It's a Privilege to be in the Last Days
December 30
There are times I am studying God's Word and I get soooo excited. Back on Dec. 13th in the John Piper Advent studies was one of those times. Check out this privilege.
"The beginning of the end was already present in the first century. The long awaited Messiah had come. So the writer of Hebrews (1:1-2) says, 'At many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.' When God sent his Son into the world, the last days began.
It is a great privilege to live in the last days because, Joel prophesied, in the last days…God will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). All the prophets looked forward to the day when the Messiah, the Son of David, the King of Israel, would come, for that would be a day of great blessing inaugurated, and we live in an age of fulfillment.
What we anticipate in the future at Christ's second coming is not something completely new, but rather the consummation of the blessings we already enjoy, because the promises have begun to be fulfilled in our lives…This is where we live. The already of fulfillment is massive-incarnation, crucifixion, atonement, propitiation, resurrection, ascension, heavenly reign, intercession, outpouring of the Holy Spirit, global missions, ingathering of the nations, church, New Testament Scriptures, prayers in Jesus' name, joy unspeakable and purchased certainty.
But the not yet is real an wonderful and waiting for its time: the second coming, the resurrection of the dead, new and glorious bodies, the end of sinning, glorification, judgment on all unbelief, rewards, entrance into the Master's joy, new heavens and new earth, Jesus present among his people face- to-face, no more misery, pleasures forevermore."
If that doesn't have you up and out of your chair shouting "Hallelujah, bring it on Jesus!" I don't know what will! So today, as we look towards 2015, we look with the excitement of being one day closer to the privilege of the last days and our entrance to heaven! woot!
