Don't Let the Four Horsemen Keep Us from Rejoicing!!

My devotions this morning were from Revelation 6-7. Those chapters are about the four horsemen who come and destroy so much of the earth during the last days. They are difficult chapters to read, so much death and destruction. Those chapters are not exactly the "morning encouragement" I was hoping for when I began my devotions.

Then I got to these verses: "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7.9-10)

Oh how my heart rejoiced! I could see the image in my mind. I could hear the voices crying out in my ear. I could see the Lamb standing before the throne. And I realized that that four horsemen, as bad as they are, cannot keep us from rejoicing! There, in the midst of great trial and tribulation, was evidence that God is still at work. He is still saving people from every tribe and language. He is still changing lives and moving us to deeper levels of commitment to Him. Regardless of what happens on this earth, one day all those who are Jesus' followers will all rejoice together in heaven.

When life gets rough, let us remember that whatever we are facing today is temporary, but salvation is forever. The trials and tribulations that seem so great today will be gone tomorrow. And if we know Jesus, then we have reason to rejoice! Those who don't know Jesus should receive Him today so they do not have to endure the trials of life alone and can look forward to eternity with Him. What a reason to celebrate!

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Dr. Terry W. Dorsett has been a pastor, church planter, denominational leader and author in New England for more than 20 years. He is a happy husband, a proud father and adoring grandfather. He is a cancer survivor and believes that God works powerfully through times of suffering. He writes extensively and you can find all of his books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Terry-W.-Dorsett/e/B00405U4NY