Friday, February 9, 2024
Anyone with any sense of moral convictions of right and wrong knows that our world plunged into degradation, chaos and open rebellion in recent years. Crime-ridden cities have become the new normal. Police’ hands are tied. Open borders prevail. Lawlessness abounds. Criminals are released from jail that should be kept incarcerated. Public space is an unsafe space. Wickedness besets the public school systems. Parents are losing rights over their minor children. Our world has gone technologically mad with transhumanism. Government officials and many professing Christians and church leaders today celebrate perverse LGBTQ+ agendas. Violence is permitted to rule. Suicides are at an all-time high. Wars and rumors of wars abound. Evil forces have geo-engineered our weather to create massive storms and disasters. Many realize too late that evil forces poison our foods that create sickness and disease that fuels Big Pharma, with America now being the sickest nation on earth and dependent on prescription medications. Governments are corrupt beyond restoration. Satanic forces rage against humanity. Yet, in the midst of this chaotic evil, true believers have a vision that will truly empower us to endure to the very end.
God said “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint” (Prov. 29:18 NKJV). The same verse in the KJV says “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. A future vision for a true believer is absolutely imperative to keep one from casting off restraint lest we become too entangled in things of this world, losing sight or vision of the glorious eternity that awaits us. I want to help every true believer focus on the truth that this world’s offerings, its empty hope of wealth, power, position, prestige and fame, together with its increasing darkness and perplexity, holds nothing that we should desire. Now, allow God to refresh your spirit in our eternal vision.
The Lord Jesus Christ said “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1–3). But what is that place? It’s the same place Abraham, millennia ago, saw by faith, who, “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). And God said “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29). So, if Abraham by faith “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God”, it’s the same “city” and “place” of which Jesus spoke saying “I go to prepare a place for you”. That city is the New Jerusalem. Abraham saw it by faith. We too must see it by faith to keep our eternal vision.
Jesus said through His prophet “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband … And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb … The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Rev. 21:2, 10–14, 16–21).
We’ve all heard this true adage, “Failure to plan is planning to fail”. And access to this “city” must be a planned event, it will not just occur by coincidence or good luck. Dear friends, get a vision for that eternal city prepared by Christ for those who endure faithfully to the end. Our eternal dwelling place with God and His Christ. The city with “mansions” being prepared by Christ for believers. The city is 1,500 miles long, 1,500 miles wide and 1,500 miles high, its walls are 216 feet thick. It’s like an incomprehensibly huge 12 story palace, with each story separated by about 125 miles vertically. Its walls are of jasper and the city is of pure gold.
Having over 45 years experience of structural steel fabrication and steel erection of single and multi-story steel-framed buildings, I envision our heavenly city with behemoth columns five miles in diameter spaced 125 miles apart with 12 jeweled foundations over them 125 miles apart vertically! This is amazing! Beyond human comprehension! And possibly, that city has winding solid gold spiral staircases five miles wide ascending 125 miles to the next higher foundation. As I consider this city my mind is drawn to the Scripture saying, “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him’. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:9–10). Amen! [My bold emphasis].
Therefore, dear friends, in all the troubles, temptations and anxieties this world can throw at us, “let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9). And in planning to endure to the very end let us “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:11–18). Amen!
And remember the words of Jesus Christ: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13). And finally, remember Jesus’ promise, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matt. 28:20). Our God-promised eternity is worth enduring anything to come! Get my new book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS”. It reveals God’s love, grace, justice and judgment.
Marlin J. Yoder
