July 30, 2024 He Takes It from There
He Takes It from There
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Read: Matthew 4:12-17
People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light;
Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up.
This Isaiah-prophesied revelation came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off:
“Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”
Matthew 4:16-17, Message
I had the privilege of hearing Reverend Dr. Stan Copeland (senior pastor of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas) preach the memorial service for those pastors recently carried to their heavenly home after years of faithful service. He told the story of his parishioner, Miss Elizabeth, who attended and stayed actively involved in church for all of her 97 years.
Even so, in that 97th (and what was to become her final) year, Miss Elizabeth insisted on attending Alpha, an evangelistic program which introduces the basics of the Christian faith. Some in attendance were “rough characters,” exploring or newer to Christian life. Yet, when Rev. Copeland asked how class was going for this seasoned Christian, Miss Elizabeth responded, “They’ve taught me a few things. They’ve shown me a perspective that’s changed my mind on some things.”
One day, in that same 97th and final year of her life, Rev. Copeland walked Miss Elizabeth to the back door to catch her ride after services. There, two burly, tattooed men from the Alpha class met and greeted him saying, “We’ll take it from here.” One gently picked up Miss Elizabeth’s 90-pound frame and carried her, while the other opened the car door and gently settled her in the back seat before the threesome drove away.
I was thinking about that story a couple of mornings later. In the twilight doze that can come right before being fully awake, I envisioned Miss Elizabeth sitting in the back seat, leaving the church. Though not mentioned by Dr. Copeland, I caught sight of something new in the scene that unfolded before me — the license plate. The tag came into sharp view and read — R. E. A. L.
My eyes flew open, now fully awake. What does that mean, Lord? I wondered.
His Spirit immediately impressed the answer upon my heart — the tag answered the question I’d mused over the previous six months as I traveled further into what I lovingly call this Act Three/Scene One season of my life and all its accompanying changes and adventures – Yes, Gloria, heaven is REAL.
So, just give me Jesus, or as Isaiah described in today’s passage, just give me “the [Son who] comes up and brings a huge light” into each day. Not only is His kingdom here and real, but also there. I am confident that when I come to the end of my rope on any given day, Jesus will take it from there. And when the time comes for me to pass from earth into heaven, Jesus will greet me and take it from there.
Reflect: How REAL is heaven to you? If interested, an excellent book by Randy Alcorn called Heaven gives a foretaste from a Scriptural point of view.
Pray: Lord Jesus, I am so grateful for the opportunity to hear Rev. Dr. Copeland’s true story and the grace of the vision You gave me as a result. I trust in Your truth that You have indeed gone before us to prepare a place for us. Before that day comes when I depart from here and enter Your heavenly kingdom, may all that I am and all that I do move us closer to Your kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. To Your glory, Amen.
By His Grace,
Gloria