Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Tuesday, December 16, 2 Corinthians 5:5

"He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

What a magnificent morning! I woke up with an overwhelming Presence flooding over me, permeating through my spirit to my soul and right into my body. A peace filled with anticipation that all is in the hands of our glorious Father.

And I could not stop repeating "Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty". In my mind I was looking up, and still am, as if today might be the day… Oh, what a glorious thought!

It made me wonder if, when the Rapture does occur, that the church will get that inkling in their souls, that the big DAY is about to occur. It reminded me of the time, many years ago, that our oldest grandson was only about six or seven, I think. I had told him that one day Jesus would return for His people. I got a phone call the next day from his mother, who said that he did not have to go to school today because Jesus was coming!

That was probably about 15 years ago, yet the thought of Jesus coming is so fresh on my mind, and Romans 13:11 comes to mind: "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed."

As well as John 14:1-3: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

That is so awesome! There will be a time when He will take us to Himself. People like me believe that Revelation 4 "signifies" the time when we are taken, for the church is promised to be delivered from the wrath to come. And then, from chapters 6 to 19 we see the wrath of God unfiltered fall upon the earth.

And then, the great scene of the Marriage Supper, and the Bride, now dressed in the fine linen of a wedding, follows their Lord back to earth as He claims the Kingdom for Himself, beginning that 1000-year reign on earth, where Satan will be bound and the nations will flow into Jerusalem to serve the King of kings. There, all the promises for the nation Israel (now with eyes fully opened) will be fulfilled for the Seed of David will reign upon the throne. And:

"He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

That's right. All is in complete control. Every believer knows this, for every believer has the Spirit dwelling within them, assuring them of their place in the Kingdom, as it is written:

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13-14)

He's preparing places for us, brothers and sisters! He is calling a people unto Himself, and that people is us! People who have recognized that they are sinners who have no hope but to cry out to the mercy of Christ to save them. And Oh, what a Savior!

"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Do you sense that realization that before God you are lost in sin, with no remedy? He gave us the remedy by inserting Himself into this world to pay for your sins and mine. You cannot save yourself. Only Christ brings salvation for all who believe. Let this be the greatest Christmas ever, and receive the gift that He came, a long time ago, born of Virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and died for our sins, and raised for our justification.

And we hear these words calling out to the lost from Romans 10:13: "For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."" Call on Him today!

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*ESV used unless noted*

Memory Helps:

"HE who HAS pre PARED us FOR this VE ry THING is GOD,
WHO has GIV en US the Spi rit AS a GUAR an TEE."

This verse happens to perfectly fit a meter of a pair of lines, each with seven beats.

I've capitalized the front beats so you can learn this quickly.

Say it a few times, and then put notes to it.

It brings back a memory, that I once put this to the tune: "HERE we COME a WAS sail ING", etc., so a tune is made just for you! Give it a try, and sing this assurance all Christmas season and beyond, for we are guaranteed that a resurrection body is waiting for those who believe!

And let His "love and joy come to you"!