Nougat 8

Siblings

Sometimes, amidst all else that’s happening to and around us, we look to Christ’s return for hope. And we know that as believers, as children of God, grafted into the family of God, we can bear witness to the hope Paul speaks of in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. It is a hope rooted in the knowledge that Christ keeps promises. His return is therefore guaranteed as promised. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat, which reflects Y’shua’s and Paul’s sentiments.

Matthew 24:31 NIV

[31] And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 NIV

[22] For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

[23] But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Gathered in Christ

Siblings, a day is coming when we will be gathered in Christ like a harvest. Now harvest is a very direct farming term, which we associate with plants or crops in our time. Yet, the sacrifices instituted by YHWH in the Hebrew Testament comprised animals as well as plants. Popular sacrifices included (birds) and lambs (livestock) in addition to wheat and barley. Moreover, even today, harvesting – by definition – can include animals, when used as food.

Consequently, a reference to us as firstfruits should not be as strange-sounding if we understand ourselves to be living sacrifices.

Self-Check

Do we understand ourselves as living sacrifices, and if so, what are we allowing to die in us so we can live?

Application

Whether it’s Paul’s interpretation or Y’shua’s words, the promise is the same: Christ will return. That’s the core message in several hymns, songs, and choruses of the faith. One that’s repeatedly on my mind says,

He’s coming back again

He’s coming back again

Went away, not to stay

He’s coming back again

He’s coming back again

He’s coming back again

Glory hallelujah

He’s coming back again

For us believers, that’s reason to celebrate (provided we continue to live in Christ). Yesterday’s Nougat started that some will be horrified by Christ’s return. This could be due to shock at discovering that what Y’shua promised has come to pass, but they weren’t ready for Him. That’s a bit hard for some of us, knowing that we have loved ones who are far from home (Heaven). If they are still alive, let’s share our conviction even as we pray for their salvation.

Yes, siblings, our communion hymn continued to offer us hope:

Christ has died

Christ has risen

Christ will come again!

Point to Ponder

Do we believe those words, or are they just vain repetitions that we utter? Selah

—

May all we seek be found in Christ