OH, FOR JUST A GLIMPSE OF JESUS!

OH, FOR JUST A GLIMPSE

OF JESUS!     

As we enter this lovely fall season, the days are getting shorter and soon it will be dark early, and the days will become dark and dreary and cold.  As I take my husband to work early in the morning it is still dark, as only a few weeks ago we enjoyed the rising of the sun at that hour.

And just as it is getting darker as the season changes, the world around us is growing spiritually darker. The darkness of sin surrounds us, and it is growing darker as violence increases and men tremble in fear for those things coming on the earth, as wars and violence continue to increase.  And I hear of much sickness and despair in people’s lives.  Some are filled with grief and do not know where to turn in their sorrow.  Men and women have lost their hope, their peace, their joy.  I despair for the next generation should the Lord tarry in His return.

As I shop in stores, or in places to observe people, I notice people’s faces.  And as I look on them, I wonder what grief that person is experiencing.  Do they have problems which seem too difficult to solve?  Has that person received news that medical test results were not good, and they fear for their future?  There could be any number of burdens and trouble that people around me are going through.  I also wonder how many of those people know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and are walking in faith through great trials, knowing that He is the answer to all of life’s struggles.

Where is our hope in these turbulent times?  Are you, my friend, facing difficult days?  And let me tell you that there is hope.  There is hope for you, my friend, and all those rushing around in stores, trying to fill the empty place in their hearts with things that don’t satisfy, and hope for those in cars as the traffic goes by. 

I recall an old chorus we used to sing and it goes like this:

 What the world needs is Jesus,

Just a glimpse of Him;

What the world needs is Jesus,

Just a glimpse of Him;

He will bring joy and gladness,

Take away sin and sadness;

What the world needs is Jesus,

Just a glimpse of Him.

(Benjamin A. Bauer)

Yes, people’s hearts are empty and dry, but just one glimpse of Jesus will fill hearts to overflowing, and satisfy that empty place inside.  “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat, yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance” Isaiah 55:1-2.

When we are bowed down in sin and sadness, we need to look up at the cross, and see our Lord there as He suffers and dies for our sins, and realize the sacrifice of love He made for you for me, and for the whole world.  Our minds cannot comprehend that kind of love:  that God would send His only Son to the cross to take upon Himself the sin of the whole world, as the spotless Lamb of God.  And the world needs only to look up from the darkness of this world and see that cross lifted up.  (See John 12:32).

“Did you ever notice the peculiar and wonderful shape of the cross?  The foot points to the earth and humility, and to the fountain filled with blood, as though it were saying:  “Come, poor, tired, troubled, sin-sick soul.  Lay down your burden; plunge into the fountain filled with blood.  Here is cleansing for the filthy, pardon for the sinful, rest for the weary, peace for the troubled, relief for the oppressed, freedom for the captive.  Just throw yourself down at the feet of Jesus and He will make you whole.”

The top of the cross points upward toward the sky and Heaven, as though saying:  “Lift up your head, poor, weary pilgrim; lift up your eyes to the Heavens above you; lift up the hands that hang down; strengthen the feeble knees; say unto them that are weak, ‘be strong and of good courage’, for He who died upon the tree has gone up yonder, beyond the clouds of glory, to prepare a place for you, that where He is there you may be also.

The two arms of the cross are outstretched as though to gather the whole world into the loving embrace of Him who said:  “Come unto Me, Oh ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved.”  Thank God for such a sign-post to reveal the way of pardon and point out the narrow Heaven-bound road to the sin-sick soul.” (Aimee Semple McPherson-“This is That”

So, my friends, look up to Jesus today and get a glimpse of the Savior, the one who died for you.  Look up to our Resurrected Lord, seated at the right hand of His Father interceding for you.  Look up to the heavens, for Jesus Christ, the King of Glory is coming again in the clouds to take His children home to the mansions He has prepared for them.  He has prepared a glorious place where there will be everlasting peace at last.  So look up to Jesus and receive the gladness and joy that only He can bring.  He has promised to bring light into this troubled world, but glory is coming, Praise the Lord!

“Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will rise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you”  Isaiah 60:1-2.

In Jesus' Name,
Pastor Sharon