A Glorious Climatic Conclusion: The Reason to be Thankful
- Can we be thankful IF we see an empty chair while sitting at our dinner table?
- Can we bow our heads and offer thanks to God IF we have walked through turmoil and anguish?
- Can we praise the Lord with our lips and our hearts IF we have known tragedy during the year?
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 1: 9-12 NASB)
In the world where I serve, situated at the university, I find that my students are excited for the upcoming holiday. They are so thankful for these two reasons—
Some Americans will travel home for a respite to enjoy five glorious days with their families, away from the university. To these domestic students, I encourage them to take a friend home with them, to share the joys of a true American Thanksgiving.
For my international students who live too far away to travel home, their respite comes and they rejoice for classes are cancelled, as they enjoy five glorious days of ‘downtime.’ To these international students, I encourage them to go (when asked) to a friend’s home for the holiday, to experience the essence of a true American Thanksgiving.
Thankfulness—
- We truly have so much to be thankful for today.
- Yesterday, we truly received so many blessings. &
- Lord-willing, tomorrow will come to us, and we will praise Him for His bounty of provisions.
Start to finish, the Bible is God’s plan for man’s redemption. If one commits to read God’s Word, then he will see that heaven has no need for the sun nor the moon to shine or give light—for in heaven there remains a Glorious Climatic Conclusion.
While reading the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers living in Colossae, we may ask:
- What is “this reason” that brings them to the place of “giving thanks to the Father”? &
- What has occurred in their lives that has “qualified” them to “share in the inheritance of the saints in Light”?
The Christian author C.S. Lewis spoke of this life we are given to live is but “shadow lands” compared to the glory of heaven, of the home that is to come. Our lives here are a shadow of heaven, and if we know anything about ‘shadows,’ then we know they reveal a vague image, a hint—of something far greater. In literature, foreshadowing occurs when the author gives a small glimpse of the story’s climax and resolution, but the reader must pay attention, read closely, and be focused to really see this provided glimpse of the future. It’s wonderful that God’s Story found in His Word, the Bible does that same foreshadowing for mankind, but humans (men, women, boys, and girls) must pay attention, read the Scripture closely, and be focused on the LORD to really see God’s promised gift of our futures.
The apostle John wrote so we might share in the revelation the LORD gave him to see.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,
(The Revelation to John 21: 1-7 NASB)
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said,
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
And He said,
“Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Then He said to me,
“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”
JESUS: The “reason” that brings them to place of “giving thanks to the Father.”
JESUS: A Glorious Climatic Conclusion.
JESUS: The Reason to be Thankful.
- JESUS is the reason we can be thankful IF we see an empty chair while sitting at our dinner table!
- JESUS is the reason we can bow our heads and offer thanks to God IF we have walked through turmoil and anguish!
- JESUS is the reason we can praise the Lord with our lips and our hearts IF we have known tragedy during the year!
“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 1: 3-5 & 12 NASB)
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven,
of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel”
. . .
“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”
- WE CAN—GIVE THANKS—FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY GONE HOME TO HEAVEN.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and . . .”
- WE CAN—GIVE THANKS—FOR THE WAY THE LORD WALKED US THROUGH THE STRUGGLES.
“God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; . . .”
- WE CAN—GIVE THANKS—FOR THE SALVATION GOD PROVIDES THROUGH HIS ONLY SON JESUS.
“there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Yes, the places we call home are but the “shadow lands” for heaven’s glory. Yes, it is so wonderful that God’s Story written in the Bible foreshadows “this” for mankind.
There Is Coming—A Glorious Climatic Conclusion—This is the Reason to be Thankful.