What Do They See?

The visit of the ambassadors to Hezekiah was a test of his gratitude and devotion…. Had Hezekiah improved the opportunity given him to bear witness to the power, the goodness, the compassion, of the God of Israel, the report of the ambassadors would have been as light piercing darkness. But he magnified himself above the Lord of hosts. He “rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up.” …

The story of Hezekiah’s failure to prove true to his trust … is fraught with an important lesson for all. Far more than we do, we need to speak of the precious chapters in our experience, of the mercy and loving-kindness of God, of the matchless depths of the Saviour’s love. When mind and heart are filled with the love of God, it will not be difficult to impart that which enters into the spiritual life. Great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, unselfish purposes, yearnings for piety and holiness, will find expression in words that reveal the character of the heart treasure.

Those with whom we associate day by day need our help, our guidance. They may be in such a condition of mind that a word spoken in season will be as a nail in a sure place. Tomorrow some of these souls may be where we can never reach them again. What is our influence over these fellow travelers?

What have your friends and acquaintances seen in your house? Are you, instead of revealing the treasures of the grace of Christ, displaying those things that will perish with the using? Or do you, to those with whom you are brought in contact, communicate some new thought of Christ’s character and work? … O that those for whom God has done marvelous things would show forth His praises, and tell of His mighty works. But how often those for whom God works are like Hezekiah—forgetful of the Giver of all their blessings.
Conflict and Courage p. 241
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Getting ready to head back to Philadelphia for Isaiah’s next appointment. I can’t wait to share all the updates with you! Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we go! Hannah
—–Please pray for Nels tonight. There is a war raging in his heart. Heidi
—–Prayers for my friend. Her dad is unresponsive (he has cancer) and she is leaving on a trip she can’t reschedule tomorrow. Kim
—–Please pray for my brother in law Bill to find a place to live. He is on hospice and looking for a foster home on the coast. We are trying our best to get him a place; please pray that God will show us a place for him. Doctors have given him six to ten months to live. Keep our family in your prayers. Chandra
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Next month, Ronnie Jay and his bride are coming here for a visit! It has been six months since I have seen him, so you can imagine how much I am looking forward to their visit. The closer April gets, the more excited I become.
There is an event that we should be excited about and anticipating far more than my son’s visit home. This event will be for eternity! Jesus is soon coming in the clouds to take all the righteous who have ever lived to His Grand and Glorious Home. He has promised, ” In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2,3 “Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:12
Our Dear Saviour often spoke of our need to be watching for His coming. “And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:29,30 Peter using this parable to illustrate our need of watchfulness, wrote “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:10-14
“Paul also looked forward to the time when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” 1 Thes 4:16 He says, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober. . . putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thes 5:1-9
As we look about us, we can see this planet waxing “old as doth a garment.” Heb 1:11 The signs given by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 as well as in a multitude of other places in Scripture are being fulfilled right before our eyes. Our Great Redeemer tells us, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28 Oh, wondrous thought! Jesus is coming soon! Soon we will see God face to face! Soon we will listen to His voice! Soon we will spend eternity in His presence! How wonderful that day will be!
John tells us, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:1-5 There will be no separation then. We will be with our friends and loved ones for all eternity! Moreover, we will become acquainted with Joseph, Nehemiah, Daniel, John, all of the patriarchs and prophets. Jesus tells us, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 8:11 Think of the experiences they can share with us! We will hear their testimony of their experience right from their own lips. Most of all, we will be able to kneel before our Loving Saviour, Who gave His life for us. We will be able to pour out our thankfulness, our gratitude, our love for the One Who loved us so.
May we be ” also ready: for in such an hour as [we] think not the Son of man cometh.” Matt 24:44 May we put on “the whole armour of God, that [we] may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph 6:13 May we soon look up and say, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9

Rose