It’s Tuesday but Thursday is Coming!!!!

It was dark when we started our hike up the mountain. Why so early you ask? Because we are only allowed exercise out of our homes from 6 – 9 AM so you need to squeeze in every minute you can. Looking at the positive side we have experienced some amazing sunrises.

On the morning of this photo we were reading from Psalm 46 as the sun broke through the darkness.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress,” (vs.10-11, NLT).

As I watched the sun irrupt from behind the mountains and dispel the last shade of darkness I thought about those words “The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us…” Those words along with the breathtaking scene filled my heart with praise for Christ’s glorious reign. The One who created the blinding sun lives in me and surrounds me with a ring of fire that promises to keep me for all eternity.

This blog comes out on Tuesday but don’t forget Thursday! Thursday is one of the most important and yet most forgotten days in Biblical history. Without Thursday I could never find comfort and joy in the verses above. This Thursday, May 21, we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, where the Scriptures show Jesus took His Throne in Heaven, ushering His Kingdom reign over all the earth!

The following morning Patty and I hiked up again to let both the sunrise and God’s Word speak in the stillness of the morning. We read from Psalm 47 which goes on to tell why Ascension Thursday is such a big deal:

“God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring. Sing praises to God, sing praises…For God is the King over all the earth,” (vs. 6-7, NLT).

What a powerful prophetic Psalm pointing to Christ’s Coronation as King over all the earth. In the midst of a world wide pandemic and the chaos it has caused among governments and nations we have a glorious King whose reign is perfect and is an everlasting fortress for His people. I love how the 500 year old Heidelberg Catechism, answer 49, makes a big deal of Thursday and shows why we blare the trumpets with shouts of praise:

1. He pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of His Father (Rom. 8:34)
2. We have our own flesh in heaven – a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven (Jn. 14:2)
3. He sends His Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee. By the Spirit’s power we make the goal of our lives not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is sitting at God’s right hand, (Jn. 14:16, Col. 3:1-4).

In this hour where the demonic darkness of fear has sought to dampen our faith remind yourself “Thursday is coming and has come!” We have an ascended King who prays for us, who is making an eternal home for us, and who has poured out His Spirit upon us. He reminds us we are sons and daughters of the King and we walk in the light of His glorious presence filled with His power bringing in His Kingdom Reign to all the earth!

Take Heart Thursday Has Come and “The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us…”