Now and Then by Gary Rose

 

Cute picture, full of optimism and a wonderful positive outlook. How different its message is from the world around us! Sin, in all its various forms attacks Christianity on a daily basis. Generically, persecution has begun worldwide. For those who can see it, persecution like that of the first century will soon be upon us; very soon, indeed!

Yet, the message of the picture and that of the following Bible passages agree- BE POSITIVE!!!

The Now

Psalm 118 (World English Bible)

 ²⁴ This is the day that Yahweh has made. 

We will rejoice and be glad in it! 

The Then

2 Thessalonians, Chapter 1 (World English Bible)

³ We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,  ⁴ so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.  ⁵ This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer.  ⁶ Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,  ⁷ and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,  ⁸ punishing those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,  ⁹ who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  ¹⁰ when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (emphasis added vss. 5-10)

Revelation, Chapter 19 (World English Bible)

  ¹ After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God;  ² for his judgments are true and righteous. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” 

  ³ A second said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.”  ⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen! Hallelujah!” 

  ⁵ A voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!” 

  ⁶ I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!  ⁷ Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.”  ⁸ It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 

  ⁹ He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.” 

  ¹⁰ I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.” 

  ¹¹ I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.  ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.  ¹³ He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.”  ¹⁴ The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.  ¹⁵ Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod.^*x1 He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.  ¹⁶ He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (emphasis added vss. 11-16)

  ¹⁷ I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, “Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God,  ¹⁸ that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.”  ¹⁹ I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army.  ²⁰ The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.  ²¹ The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. 

We live in the here and now; with life that is both positive and negative. But God's presence makes life good, regardless of the circumstances. Paul's message to the Thessalonians gives encouragement to Christians in the NOW, for the future and Jesus' message (through John the apostle) shows judgement that will set things straight.

Whether it be the now or the then, God is at work in your life to make each day a "favorite" day!!! Humm, this sounds a lot like heaven, doesn't it?????????