Last weekend, John Cahill and Michael Graff brought a straight-shooting word for us at Revival Weekend. It’s well summed up by the vision Michael shared of Jesus with a sickle in endless fields of wheat. Jesus is holding back the final harvest to give you and me more time to share the gospel.
His heart burns with compassion for all people. No one weeps more over suffering, oppression, and injustice. We feel it to the degree we are aware of it, but the Lord sees and intimately knows the pain of every single individual on planet earth. He wants to end that suffering. The book of Revelation looks forward to that day:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’.” (Revelation 21:3–4)
The day is coming when Jesus will return. He will put an end to injustice, pain, sin, and death. Why does he wait? Why does he prolong the suffering? Why does he let it keep hurting those he loves? SALVATION.
In 2 Peter chapter 3, it says, “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.” The Lord allows our current suffering in patience, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Do not be lulled to sleep by American comfort. The end will come. Those who reject the Lord will experience eternal separation from him. The loss of the presence and goodness of God will burn like a fire eating up the chaff. But those who accept Jesus as Lord will be gathered into his barn like wheat. They will enjoy the fullness of life in his presence forever!
Revival Weekend sounded a wakeup call! Answer the call, my friends! Set aside busyness, fear of failure, self-consciousness, comfort, and every other hindrance. Go and share the good news about Jesus! Be yourself, be genuine, and be bold!
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14)