The Plan: Revealed and Realized!
The Plan Which Includes “US ALL”
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

† I.H.S. †

May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ help you to see His plan for us all!

 When you have something this good!

 One of the most influential missionary/professors in my life passed away this week, a man I was blessed to talk to a couple of times, and hear preach four or five times. But I remember his stories of grace, I remember the lessons he shared with me and thousands of others.

One happened on a very cold, frozen Philadelphia morning back in the early 80s. He took the train into the city, where he was meeting with a bunch of corporate donors, 7 figure donors, who wanted to hear about his mission work in Haiti

Tony gets off the Metro train, flips up his collar and starts the 3 block walk to his meeting. As he does, being a city boy, he is aware of his surroundings and sees an obviously homeless bum between him and his goal. He tries to see if he can cross the street to avoid him when he realizes the homeless guy has targeted him, and is walking toward him, with a large Styrofoam coffee cup in his hands.

His heart keeps wavering – he doesn’t want to be the guy who ignores the obvious needs, but he can’t be late for the meeting. As he mind flips and flops, the homeless guy is now only a block away…now 200 feet, now 100 and the guy begins to cry out “Mister! Mister” and extends a cup out to him….

Tony thinks it is his offering cup and takes off his glove to reach in his pocket to see if he has any change…feeling guiltier and guiltier…

The man, with a grimy face and absolutely filthy clothes is saying “this is for you Mister! God want you to have this!” And the coffee cup – Tony now sees has a lid, and steam coming out.

He goes on to say, “I don’t want any money Mister! My cup of coffee was so perfect this morning, I just had to give one to bless someone else with one – and God said you were it…” “Haven’t you ever had anything so good – that you just have to share it with someone else?”

As Tony politely and tearfully takes a sip of the coffee, the man’s smile grows infectious, And Tony realizes he was right, it was the perfect way to enjoy the frozen air and icey sidewalks of Philly that morning.

The man nods his head, having shared more than a cup of coffee, he’s shared something inspiring and full of awe.

Preparations are Scary – and Should Be!

As Tony feared the approach of the homeless guy, as he didn’t know if would just be uncomfortable, or maybe mugged, so I think many people fear the coming of Christ, and the Judgment Day.

Even the description in Daniel is scary!

(judgment) thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
10A stream of fire issued and came out from before him;

I don’t think we are going to see this and say, wow, this is incredible as if we are watching some science fiction movie. I think this is the kind of vision where we see the anger of God about to be unleashed with extreme prejudice.

With all the power, with millions of angels serving Him and waiting on Him, what chance do sinners have?

We who count ourselves as good Christians need to hear this as well.

Consider these words from Ezekiel…

²¹  But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. ²²  All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done. ²³  “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.

That’s the good part! We like it….

²⁴  However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins. Ezekiel 18:21-24 (NLT2)

May I remind you of the fiery throne, chariot and wrath of God?

We need to take our confession and absolution time seriously. We need to know that if we deny our sin, we are simply deceiving ourselves – but if we confess it God is… faithful and just… and the judgement is seen in the rest of the vision!

It Begins!

If the vision of the Father on the fiery throne is terrifying, the vision of the Son of Man is one that will bring tears – tears of joy!

and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

The cloud is an incredible vision you see the Hebrew for cloud there pictures the entire company of heaven, arriving with Jesus, the son of man.

⁹  After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)

As the Son of man, Jesus, is presented to God the Father, he brings us all with Him! Over and over this is the message of scripture, for as we died with Him we will certainly rise with Him, and He will lead us into the Father’s presence.

On the day when Jesus the Messiah is given dominion, and glory, when He is crowned King of King and Lord of Lords, even as He enters His glory, we will enter it with Him!.

This news is better than a cup of coffee on a frozen winter day. SO make sure others know it is coming, for God is coming..

And that news should help you dwell in God’s peace now – a peace that passes all understanding, a peace which the King of Kings will keep you in until His return! AMEN!