hope

Revelation- The Message of Hope

Satan is the antithesis of hope. What a better way for Satan to get the church to take its focus off the hope of Christ than to distort the message of hope that encompasses the Book of Revelation. Rather than lead us to the hope of Christ’s victory, we have allowed Satan to use it to cause division in the body of Christ. The church has been split based on different theological and eschatological viewpoints of Revelation. Arguments have been fought within the church, within our families, and among friends. I’ve had this experience in my life. I grew up in Pentecostal circles and was raised with one viewpoint. When I studied the Word more on my own and with other Christians, my viewpoint changed. I even took a class in college on the Book of Revelation. But honestly, with all the hostility and divisive outcomes, this book left a bad taste in my mouth. That should’ve been a clue that this effect was not from God but rather the evil one, for God’s Word is truth and light and anything contrary to that is not of God.

So why am I writing this today? My family and I recently started engaging in Passion City Church online as part of our church and worship time. A few weeks ago we watched a sermon by Louie Giglio about Revelation, which was actually one sermon out of a series of sermons. My first reaction when I saw what it was about was, “Ok, here we go again. I would rather watch a sermon about something else.” But I decided not to change it, and I am so glad I didn’t. I got to hear Revelation taught as a Bible study without theological viewpoints or debates. It was just purely the Word of God illuminating the truth and hope of Christ. Now I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, and I’ve read through Revelation quite a few times, but in the midst of hostility and division, I forgot about the message of hope. That is the whole point of Revelation, that in the midst of all the chaos of life and times that seems unbearable, Christ already has the victory! We will get to be with Him, and we will finally be able to be in the presence of the Almighty God. My soul was stirred up after that sermon, and I decided to watch all of them from the beginning to the last one today. What struck me after each message was that it was all about Jesus, every time, straight from the Word of God. There was no debate about “the rapture” or who the 144,000 are. It was all about Jesus, His sacrifice, what He is preparing for us now, and how we will rule and reign with Him as sons and daughters of the living God. That’s why Satan has twisted it and gets us to focus on all the things that WE have chosen to divide us rather than listen to the words of Jesus as He communicates to John amazing scenes from heaven that all the forefathers would have wished they could see. We have such a privilege and honor to get a glimpse of what happens around the throne room of Yahweh. Louie Giglio is a great speaker, but I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord God anointed this series of messages because if there is any time in history that people need to understand the hope of Christ, it’s now.

With that said, I highly encourage you to check out this series: Revelation Series

As a Christian, it will leave you encouraged by the Word of God and emboldened to share the Word with others. If you aren’t a Christian, it will be the message of hope in this dark world that this is not the end of it all, but greater things are in store for those who choose to follow Jesus Christ.

I pray that you will be blessed, uplifted, encouraged and refreshed as the Word of God comes to life and the greatest hope of all time is declared.

Thank You, Father God, for the gift of Your Word which shines the light of truth in this sinful world. Thank You for this Revelation of Jesus Christ which is not simply a message of hope but THE message of hope for all nations, tribes, and tongues that all may know Your ultimate love for us and Your power against the spiritual darkness that permeates our world. We look forward to a new heaven and earth where we will be with You as THE light and where we will finally see You face to face. Thank You for the riches of Your kindness, mercy, and grace. Help us to endure trials and tribulations for the sake of Your name that You may be glorified. Refine Your church with the refiner’s fire so that what is not of You is burned up and what is of You remains so that we can be Your bride you are molding us to be. May our oil be full and lamps lit so that we are ready for the day You, the bridegroom, come for us, Your bride. Forgive us of our sins and heal us so that we can be made whole again in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

©Lauren Demuth

The Path

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish.” ~ Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NASB) (emphasis added)

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” ~ Ephesians 4:1-6

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” ~ Philippians 1:27-28

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 3:13-14

~~~

There are a number of paths we think about on a daily basis. What do I need to get done for today? Is my family provided for? How can I climb the career ladder? How much money should we save? How much weight do I want to lose?

Goals are not bad in and of themselves, but do they add to our ultimate goal of following Christ or do they become a hindrance? It is much easier to let worry and pain guide us instead of faith. Faith requires that we have hope in what we cannot see, which can be difficult. But that is why we have His Word, a testament to His faithfulness, a guide to life instead of death.

The message of the Scriptures is a simple one: Obey God. Walk in His ways. Conduct ourselves in a way that pleases God and represents Christ in world which has no hope in itself. God is our hope. Christ is our salvation. This is the only path, the narrow one, leading to eternal life. This is our path.

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal

 

 

 

Truly Blessed

Last year I was praying about finding the right kind of job, and the Lord provided. Not only has He given me the opportunity to earn some money, but He’s put me in a position to be a light if I choose to be. Being in school for six years I was surrounded by a Christian bubble, not really being in the world. Focusing on my studies, the only interaction with the world was when I had to go shopping for food or other items. I have been blessed by being around Christians, but I never expected to feel even more blessed by being in the world. Let me explain.

I’ve been blind to what hopelessness looks like. I’ve been a Christian for the majority of my life, and even though I’ve had struggles, I could always turn to the Lord. I’ve shared in posts how I’ve struggled with pessimism, and I’ve tried to make every effort (with much prayer) to think more positively, to be a light. I’m thankful that I didn’t get a job until I was improving in this area because many people around me are negative. But this is now my opportunity to be the positive one. Being in the world has helped me to realize that there is no reason to be negative because I have hope! I have Christ! It dawned on me the other day as I was writing that I can’t imagine who I’d be if I didn’t have Christ. All the struggles that I’ve worked on as a Christian would not be worked out. I’ve seen how people try to wrestle with issues on their own. There’s much bitterness, anger, negativity…hopelessness.

I get it now why Jesus came to save the spiritually sick. The religious people should have known better (i.e. Pharisees and teachers of the law). We should know better. I know that if I act like some of my co-workers there would be no distinction between me and them. I understand why Jesus loves them, why He died for them. They need hope. They need life. They need real love. This is when the church steps in. We are the body of Christ. We should reflect these things. We should be different, not to make ourselves look better, but to bring hope. There is no place for haughtiness in the body of Christ. The world is a crazy place, no doubt, but people don’t know any better unless we tell them. More importantly, unless we show them.

I am truly blessed to be a follower of Christ! He has saved me from myself so that I can be a light to the world. What a precious gift.

~~~

How Great You Are

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal

Season

We all go through seasons in our lives, and sometimes it seems easier to let the tough ones lead us away from God. But as many of us have learned, walking away from God doesn’t make things better. Instead, let us cling to the Lord and grow through our pain and trials. May we become more refined and stronger in our Christian walk because of it. Here’s a depiction of what that looks like.

Season (originally written February 8, 2014)

A new flower blossoms in springtime

as it bathes in radiant sunshine

and drinks in the refreshing rain

from heaven.

 

Nothing to disturb it now

except a storm or two,

but even if a few petals fall

they will grow back anew.

~

The inevitable comes as the wind changes,

the air feels crisp and chill.

The petals fall more frequently now.

How can this be God’s will?

 

Exposed, bare, and withered

the flower disappears under a blanket of snow

and ponders its purpose.

Oh, how will it grow?

~

Time passes by;

it feels like an eternity.

Then a ray of light pierces the darkness,

and the flower rediscovers its identity.

 

In truth, it was never lost.

Only a season had passed.

The blossoms begin to return

and this year, the flower is stronger than last.

 

It is a mystery why the seasons change,

why the world becomes cold,

why the light seems to fade,

yet without the death of the old,

new things cannot unfold.

 

With the passing of a season,

the flower becomes alive again

with newfound hope and rejuvenation.

Now there is nothing to fear,

nothing to dread,

because the Creator knows what lies ahead.

© Lauren Heiligenthal

Discovery

This is another poem that I wrote about five years ago. For a long time I struggled with (and sometimes still do) who I’m supposed to be. I wanted to please people and also help people. A lot of times those things turned into pain. I had quite a bit of anger and bitterness at the time. I also felt like I was supposed to share myself with others through writing and singing. Such things were scary to consider because I didn’t know what people would think. I’m still learning how not to care so much, but I’ve also grown to understand that if my heart is to please God and encourage others then how bad can it be? 🙂 Well here’s the poem that formulated with all of these thoughts.

Discovery (originally written March 9, 2009)

I halt around each corner.

Fear grips me as I tiptoe

my way to discovery.

What will I find?

Better yet, who?

 

With each step I try to gain

courage.

I know what’s coming: the mirror.

Who will it be this time?

 

The perfectionist, perhaps?

The singer?

Coward?

Servant?

Reject?

The strong one?

Not this time;

the masks have been discarded.

 

Instead, I find myself as a child

being held in the arms of Time Itself,

being carried by the only True Love that exists,

being reminded of the beauty created within me.

 

I weep staring at the image I thought was lost.

I reach desiring to grab hold of my dreams.

I want to remember this image forever

because I can see I have always been His.

 

He is my journey.

He is my discovery around every corner

of every trial

of every chapter

of my life.

 

Beyond the masks eternally lies this image:

Fearlessness in the arms of God,

Who shapes every inch,

Who mends each broken piece,

Whose love exposes truth

in pain

and joy

in tears.

 

My hope runs with His blood.

My heart beats with each new song of creation.

My soul weeps with the broken

for I am a part of Him:

His image,

my discovery.

© Lauren Heiligenthal