Come, Lord Jesus!

​This Sunday we wrap up our six-week series in the Revelation of John. We have largely been finding during this time a combination of comfort and confrontation. John has brought the church through all the ages to a place of confrontation, as we seem to continually need to battle against things such as apathy, false worship and selfishness. But at the very same time John is confronting, he is comforting us with God’s promises and a picture of our final eternal home.
 
This Sunday we will look at the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22. In this passage we are brought into the imagery of heaven and the prayer of the church to once again be united with Jesus. The prayer is very similar to the one we have prayed at the dinner table as long as I can remember – “Come, Lord Jesus!” I grew up with it and we still pray it today.
 
It took me many years to learn the comprehensiveness of these three simple words. As an “old guy” I now operate with that prayer as a constant cry of my heart. Now, on one level it is the prayer of the Church to once again look upon the face of Jesus just like I can look upon your face on Sunday. In other words, it is asking Jesus to come and take me to my eternal home. This is always a great and comforting prayer.
 
Then there is the “Come, Lord Jesus!” prayer that is asking for Jesus to invade every moment of my life in this world before I get to my eternal home. This cry of my soul is based on my desperation, as well as the hope filled promise that I am loved by my creator. This is a position of my mind and will that recognize how good Jesus is and how much He loves me.

• This is my prayer for the day to be used to God’s glory.
• This is my prayer for forgiveness and grace.
• This is my prayer to know the best way to live my life.
• This is my prayer to know how best to love my family, neighbors and Oak Hill.
• This is my prayer to be a good husband, father and pastor.

So, the final chapter of the Bible brings me back to my beginning and you to yours. God breathes life into us and invites us to be filled over and over again. It concludes with an understanding that I need my God and He wants to be with me forever!
Come to us, Lord Jesus! COME!
Pastor Nick