Give

Central Plains EFC

Welcome to Central Plains Evangelical Free Church

  • about us / contact us
  • current Sunday school and sermon series
  • Kids for Truth and Teens for Truth
  • Online Giving
  • our pastor
  • sermon audio
  • statement of faith
  • Weekly Bulletin
Welcome to Central Plains Evangelical Free Church

the final word on suffering

December 30, 2018 by Leigh Warmbrand

What suffering are you living through today? God is in charge over the whole earth. He is not blind to your suffering, troubles, and pain. God tells us of future hope and glory and has the final word on your suffering.

Micah told God’s people of the hope and promise to come. He said, “In the latter days, in that day,” (Micah 4:1-8) a bright and shining time is to come. Fix your eyes upon that, look ahead beyond the glumness and troubles of today. God invites His people then (and now) to look ahead to future glory, everything good and positive to come. It will be a time when the mountain of the house of the Lord, once plowed and leveled like a field, will rise up and be the highest mountain. Peoples from many nations, languages, and families will come to the mountain to hear and obey God’s Word. He will judge and settle disputes among all the peoples and nations. There will be no more “unfair”. Nations will beat swords into plowshares and there will be peace in the land, including China, North Korea, Iran, Europe, Central America, and Russia. It will be a world of plenty, where everyone can have their own shade tree and enough food. In these latter days, peace and richness, glory, rest, joy, and walking in the ways of the Lord our God, will reign.

This is the message of Christmas. 700 years later from Micah’s time, this good news came, in part. In Christ, peoples can be united in Him and under Him. He has come and is “the way and truth and life.” He levies justice and rules in kingship and glory. In Him is peace and blessing, plenty, richness, no fear, joy, rest, and glory. Not completely, for sure, but we live in a time of “now and not yet.” It will come in fullness when He returns, and we look forward. The celebration of Christmas is paired with Easter, and joined to His return. It is a package deal.

This hope and glory and future vision fuels our living today and now. Do you see this hope and promise? It is an open window, letting in a fresh breeze to a stale and musty room that smells like death. It is an open curtain, letting in sunshine to a dim room. Hope and promise and “bigger picture” vision keeps us going in the hard times, sustaining us in suffering. The broader canvas and wider brush-strokes give meaning to day-to-day living. It strengthens and encourages us and helps us to endure, even in suffering.

God promises to rescue and redeem His people. Suffering will end. It has already come, in part. It may be for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Morning has begun in Christmas. God has spoken the final word on your suffering, and it is, “Jesus.”

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: suffering

Tags

Bible book review books Charlottesville China Christmas church Coronavirus creation death Easter eclipse evangelism faith forgiveness glory God gospel grace graduation Hindu homosexuality hope hurricane Jesus Jonah love Luke marriage mercy missions money Muslims praise prayer Proverbs Psalms racism salvation sermon audio Sudan suffering thanks weekly update worship

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017

Copyright © 2023 Central Plains EFC.

Church WordPress Theme by themehall.com