1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
What do you fear, Reader? Is it fear of the unknown? Is it fear of a deteriorating relationship? The way I see it, fear is the very opposite of faith. If you are older in your Christian walk today and are still fearful, you are not honoring God in your spiritual life. Why? When you fear, you are not placing your trust in the Lord to take care of whatever your fears are based upon. Faith allows the Christian heart to hope that the Lord will take care of your fears. Look back on situations in your Christian life where God has come through for you. Rest in those answered prayers and know that His will is perfect for you. Whatever the outcome will be perfect!
Jesus taught us that we are worth more in His eyes than the sparrows! He cares for them and feeds them. Why should the Lord care less for you and your fears? Have you sat down with Him and told Him? Imagine if Jesus were sitting in a chair right next to you! What would you share with him? He knows your every need. Prayer is not for Him, Reader. Prayer is for YOU! It is your opportunity to tell the Lord how you feel, what’s on your heart, your fears, and anything else that is troubling you. He loves you, Christian.
If you are not a born-again Christian, God does not hear when you cry out to Him. He hears the desperate pleas of those who are seeking Him with an authentic repentant heart.
There are so many today who have been misled into thinking that their little prayerette asking to be saved was enough. They continue on the same path they were on before the prayer and no change has occurred in their lives. If there is no change in attitude toward sin, then there is no repentance. No repentance means one perishes and is sent for all eternity to the Lake of Fire.
If you must fear, fear going to Hell and burning for all eternity. Let that fear bring you to repentance and be saved. (John 3:3, John 3:7, John 3:16) If you’re saved, then cast your fears at the feet of our Lord and let Him take care of your fears.
If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
Fairest Lord Jesus! Ruler of all nature! O thou of God and man the Son! Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown!
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, Robed in the blooming garb of spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, who makes the woeful heart to sing!
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight. And all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heav’n can boast!
Beautiful savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and son of Man! Glory and honor. Praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine!
authorship Unknown
The History Behind the Hymn
I have to say, I’m a little surprised at how old this hymn is. For some reason, I thought it was rather new, perhaps late 19th century or even early 20th century, but some traditions say it’s as old as the 12th century, sung when Crusaders made their way to the Holy Land.
Others attribute the hymn to around 1620, when the followers of the reformer John Hus were driven from Bohemia in a bloody purge. They settled in Silesia, now part of Poland. This is said to have been a Bohemian folk song.
The first known appearance of the hymn was in the Munster Gesangbuch of 1677. Hoffman Fallersleben heard a group of Silesians singing this hymn, wrote down what they sang, and published it in his Schlesische Volkslieder in 1842. This is the version of the hymn we know.
The hymn appeared in English in Richard Storrs Willis’ Church Chorals and Choir Studies in 1850.
A notation about this hymn in that collection stated that it was, “sung by the German knights on the way to Jerusalem.” That may well be where the Crusader legend began. Willis was also the composer of It Came upon a Midnight Clear.
Today’s hymn is like a love letter and song to our glorious Lord and Saviour, our King! Are there even enough words that totally describe Jesus? I dare say, no! When I meditate on when the Church is raptured and we face our Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13), I cannot even imagine what I will do! Will I run into His arms and thank Him? Will I fall to the ground in adoration? What do you think you will do when you see Him?
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight. And all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heav’n can boast!
Message for today
Who am I that the Creator of the universe (John 1:1-3) would think of me? Why would He have time for me!? Why would He even think of me? The Lord’s love for His creation is so great that He gave His life and shed His own blood so we could spend eternity with Him. This is beyond my comprehension. If I try to use my intellect and logic, I dare say the enemy has a field day and tries to convince me that it’s a bunch of hogwash. But it is by faith that I believe. So what is faith?
Everyone in their heart of hearts knows there is more than just life here on earth. There has to be something greater! When you think of every living thing and what each is comprised of, it is virtually impossible to believe in evolution. Look at the intricacies of a flower, a bird or the inner ear of man. A woodpecker’s tongue is not like any other bird – it wraps around the bird’s brain! Each part of creation has a specific purpose. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than it does that a wonderful Creator is responsible for it all!
We will surely find out one day. When the King of Kings and LORD of Lords appears! I would rather live my life worshiping this amazing Creator than to find out when I die that I was totally wrong! In fact, what have I lost if I lived a godly life? I’ve lost nothing, except eternity in Hell. What a glorious day it will be when I enter into eternity seeing my Fairest Lord Jesus!
Beautiful savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and son of Man! Glory and honor. Praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine!
If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!