THE LORD’S PURPOSES ON THE EARTH

Day 11 of God Keeps Covenant: THE LORD’S PURPOSES ON THE EARTH

After studying the history of the Jewish people and before we move on to more recent events, let us step back to look at the big picture of the Lord’s priorities. How is He fulfilling His Word “on the earth with certainty and without delay”?

First, the Gospel is spreading across the face of the earth at a staggering pace. Bible translators are now using advanced computer technology to speed their vital work. The Internet is making the Gospel available to millions previously without access to its message. Thousands are daily risking their lives to obey the Lord’s command to “go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

Also in His discourse with His disciples concerning the time of His return, the Lord Jesus  gave these same marching orders: “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end shall come.”  (Matthew 24:14) 

 We read John’s vision in Revelation 7:9 of the “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” And we are stirred to pray harder, give more and go where the Lord sends us that the maximum number of people may come into His Kingdom.

Another of the Lord’s priorities is His Church, whom He loves so passionately that He calls her His Bride. Much of the emphasis in the letters of Paul, Peter and John is on teaching the followers of Jesus how to grow up in Him, turn from worldly ways, walk with Him and love others as He did. We are to be “without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:27) 

The Lord Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us that we, His Bride, will make ourselves ready for His coming. (Revelation 19:7) He will help us but we must prepare. We must continually walk more closely with Him, our beloved Bridegroom.

Almost obscured from the Church’s view is a third priority – a distinct stream flowing through the Scriptures – the return of the Jews to their land and their restoration to their Lord. This stream is an integral part of the river of God’s great purposes on the earth. For most of the past 2,000 years this priority has been flowing underground. But this stream is bursting forth as a powerful reality in our day to take its rightful place in the Church.

My desire in this devotional is to set before you just a portion of the tremendous weight of evidence in the Scriptures that the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel is absolutely essential in the Lord’s big picture. His Word cannot be fulfilled on the earth without the promises in the Old Testament Prophets concerning Israel coming to pass.