Glorify The Lord Even Within The Fires
“There will be like the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.” As a young boy, if the backyard apple tree had no more apples on the lower branches I, and some friends, would shake the branches to cause the apples on the top branches to fall. Likewise, we also had grape vines that we could eat from, but only after the neighbor harvested all that he wanted. After all, the vines were on his property. We are living in days where the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Message of the Cross of Jesus Christ is becoming very scarce. Even people who believe in the One True God are a scarce occurrence, as is the scarcity of those who accept what Jesus Christ has done for them on the Cross. Even so, we have a resolve to glorify the Lord even within the fires.
“They will lift up their voice, they will sing for the majesty of the Lord, they will cry aloud from the sea.” The remnant of the Jewish Nation under the reign of the anti-Christ will rejoice for the presence of God in their life. Yes, they will be much fewer than their numbers today, but their thankfulness for the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life, and the Blood of Jesus Christ applied to their heart will be heard. Yes, many will accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah during the Great Tribulation. Even within the wickedness of today’s times, we who already accept what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross will rejoice, and that rejoicing will be heard in the ears of God.
“Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.” Even today, there are followers of Christ Jesus who are literally set on fire and die a horrid death. Then, there are the figurative “fires” that represent violence and hostile behavior. Even today, the followers of Jesus Christ and those whose faith is in the One True God, face the “fires” of ridicule, rejection, disparagement, and persecution on a daily basis. Even so, we have a resolve to glorify the Lord even within the fires. Jesus Christ is coming soon and we have a Home within the New Heaven and New Earth.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Scripture Text
“When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.” Isaiah 24:13-15