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Never
Never will I forsake you. Never will I leave you. Never.
That’s a long time. It’s longer than I can hold my breath, and it’s longer than I can stay awake. I can’t think of a calendar date, nor can I imagine any number of years, decades, or centuries that would nullify God’s promise. And no person, other than Jesus Christ, can make and fulfill this hope.
Friends and family make promises, often with good intention, but do not possess the ultimate power to ensure they are fulfilled. But Jesus lived a life overflowing with prayer-filled obedience to the Father, miracles, and teachings that astounded His hearers. He kept His Father’s word perfectly, even demonstrating power over life and death by raising Lazarus—and Himself—from the dead. There is no power, no authority, no circumstance, no tragedy, no plan that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
NEVER will I leave you.
Leave
Jesus left his perfect dwelling place in Heaven with the Father. He was in perfect union with Father. He gave up glory for mortality. He shed power for weakness.
Jesus set aside perfection. We cling to corruption. Jesus willingly and joyfully came down from Heaven and displayed His life for all to see, even unto death on the cross. We have trouble saying no to a video game, a cookie, or another diversion, and yes, when the Lord of Glory wants to spend time with us.
Jonah saw God’s lovingkindness and fled His presence. Paul saw God’s perfection and turned aside to find his own. But Jesus . . . He sees our brokenness and sin-soaked stature and, like the Prodigal Father, leaves all sense of decorum and dignity and RUNS to us!
You
And as you go, I will be with you. Even unto the end of the age.
As you go. As you do the gospel work of spreading the news of Jesus, introducing people to Jesus and training up disciples of Jesus. Where His work is being done, there we participate as friends and fellow workers with God.
I have family members in Heaven that I loved dearly while they were here on earth and miss greatly since they have departed. But it is Jesus that I want to see most. It is Jesus that I need. It is His presence alone that satisfies, that fulfills. Imagine a Heaven without Jesus. If you can, maybe it’s not heaven you’re imagining.
Jesus is my fulfillment, my hope, my joy. When you read those words, do they ring true? Did they at one time? Shout to the heavens, praise our God, mighty to save! Truly we don’t deserve this God of fierce power, undying love, and amazing grace—but surely, we have Him in Christ Jesus the Lord!
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