The End of Sorrow

Collins Concise Dictionary defines sorrow as:

1.       The feeling of sadness, grief, or regret associated with loss, bereavement, sympathy for another’s suffering etc.

2.       A particular cause or source of this.

Sorrow is usually associated with a loss of some kind. Sorrow can happen to an individual, to family, to friends, to work colleagues and even on a national scale. Loss of life in events such as bushfires, floods, tsunamis, cyclones and earthquakes are times of great mourning and sorrow.

Loss of property and livelihoods bring sorrow. Loss of health and wellbeing also bring sorrow.

In each person’s life there will come times of sorrow.

It is good for Christians to know that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest has passed through this scene and knows what we pass through in our lives.

Hebrews 4:15, 16 tell us, “(15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The Greek word peirazo translated as tempted can also mean a testing, or a trial of some kind. The Lord Jesus knows what it is to sorrow. The prophetic word in Lamentations 1:12 gives a graphic scene from His innermost soul at Calvary.

 

“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like My sorrow, which has been brought on Me, which the Lord has inflicted in the day of his fierce anger.”

Calvary brought intense sorrow to the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows and understands when we sorrow. One of the great triumphs of His work at Calvary will be the end of all sorrow for those who have been redeemed and love Him.

Revelation 21:3, 4 state, “(3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God himself will be with them and be their God. (4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

In eternity, in the New Heavens and the New Earth, there will be no more sorrow!

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

The Marks of Calvary

What sort of thoughts comes into your mind as you consider the impact of these words in your life?

Does the image of a crucified Saviour come before you; a Saviour who died at Calvary to pay the price of your sins and mine.

Isaiah 53:7 tells us, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” The Lord Jesus willingly went to Calvary; not only to accomplish His Father’s will, but to redeem our souls back to God.

The marks of Calvary are very significant to the spiritual mind. They are constant reminders of the price paid for redemption, mine and yours.

In John 20:26-29 we have a beautifully instructive scene take place.

“(26) And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ (27) Then he said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ (28) And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (29) Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’.”

Thomas had not been with the other disciples eight days prior and had not physically seen the Lord on that occasion. He told the others that unless he saw the nail-prints; and also put his hand into His side he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. (John 20:25).

One look was enough for Thomas, his doubts vanished!

There is a special blessing for us “...who have not seen and yet have believed.” One day in the Glory we will see the marks of Calvary on our blessed Lord and say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”

Another enlightening scene takes place in Luke 24: 13-32.It is the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The Lord Jesus draws near and goes with them. They do not recognise Him. He converses with them on their journey. As they near their village they ask Him to stay with them. At mealtime He takes bread and blesses it and gives some to them.

Verse 31, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanishes from their sight.”

It is my belief, that as He broke the bread and gave it to them; they saw the nail-prints in His hands!

1 John 3:2 tells us, “Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

 

We will see the marks of Calvary in our blessed Redeemer!

We will be reminded of His sacrifice on our behalf, throughout eternity!

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

Reflections on a sad day

On 10-Jan-2011 what has been described as an inland tsunami swept down from the Great Dividing Range at Toowoomba in Queensland Australia; causing terrible destruction and loss of life. Nineteen souls perished that day; swept away in the raging waters.

The severity and height of the flood waters caught everyone by surprise. People had to be rescued by helicopters from their roof tops. Houses were swept away in the huge torrents of water.

Today 10-Jan-2012 we reflected on the tragedy and its aftermath. Memorial services were held in the Lockyer Valley to remember those who lost their lives one year ago today.

As I think of those who lost their lives, I wonder how many belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder how many were prepared for eternity. Probably none of those who lost their lives realised that God required their souls that day.

Once again the necessity of accepting God’s offer of salvation has been highlighted. Hebrews 2:3 states, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord...”

Many souls were physically saved from death that day last year. God has given them another opportunity; yet how many of them know if they are safe for eternity. It is a wonderful thing to have the assurance of eternal salvation.

I will end with a couple of verses from the epistle of Jude. Jude 24, 25, “(24) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) to God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now forever. Amen.”

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

You crown the year with Your goodness

Another year has passed into eternity; with its joys and sorrows, with its fears and victories and with its hopes and disappointments.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Verses 2-8 list 28 different events beginning with, “...a time to be born and a time to die...”

Not all these events will occur at the same time. As we progress through life we will experience different events in our lives. Our age and life experience have a direct bearing on many of these occurrences. Can you say with me, “God has been faithful?” In the ups and downs of life in 2011 have you found God faithful?

Psalm 65:11 tells us, “You crown the year with Your goodness...” Has that been your experience? The Hebrew word for crown is atar. The word not only means to crown something, but also has the thought of surrounding or compassing the object. Our God surrounds the year with His goodness!

Remember, as we commence the year 2012 that our God will surround the year with His goodness. Ecclesiastes 2:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time...”

Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.” Some of the things that happen to us are not good in themselves, but they work together with other things for our good. Sometimes we only realise this in hindsight.

Ephesians 5:20 tells us that we should be, “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This can be a hard call when things are going wrong, or not working out the way we like. However, that is part of the life of faith and God will not allow us to pass through testings beyond our endurance.

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

The Greek word peirasmos used for the word temptation does not just mean temptation to sin, but also a trial or testing by God to prove our character, faith and holiness. God never tempts us to sin!

Remember God surrounds the year with His goodness!

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]