When the Children Begin to Sing

Probably just after the first week in the month just passed I observed something that happens usually at this time of the year.

Now that the weather is warm, all the windows are open for fresh air, and the sounds coming from the primary School just below us became more voluminous!

At regular intervals throughout the day the children came out to play, and although the noise was rather loud at times, it was all well natured and brought a little cheer to the heart.

One or two times during the week once the children were back inside again they became engaged in something that is rather delightful. You could hear clearly from the main hall the children singing. They were practising for an event at the end of term coming up quickly. They were usually singing songs of affirmation and encouragement as the older ones would be leaving primary school for good and starting secondary school. A new chapter in their lives is just around the corner.

As I heard the children’s beautiful melodies I thought to myself: "The end of term is near. Soon the children will be on their summer holidays.”

I suddenly realised that the Lord Jesus expressed a sentence or two which was parallel to my thinking when speaking of end time events. This is what he said:

What things was the Lord speaking of? If we were to read earlier on this chapter we would find that the Lord is referring to what it's going to be like on this earth after the He has come and taken His people away from this earth to be with him while judgement is being poured out on all ungodliness.

He clearly told us of the sadness and the troubles that are going to be characteristic of that time. And we can see clearly how rapidly everything He was describing we are witnessing today! It doesn't matter where we look society appears to be falling apart. And without even realising everybody is looking for someone with a solution. The whole world needs rescuing from itself which on self-destruct.

It is into this context that the Lord Jesus tells us to “look up, lift up our heads; for our redemption drawers near.”

While it is diligent to show an interest in the news and in current events, let us do it with discernment, comparing what we see and hear with what the Bible says. Because more often than not, the things we hear may not be the entire truth. Sometimes the realities may be downplayed, and at other times we may be hearing of dramas that have been exaggerated.

Most of what we hear and see is going to bring discouragement, and if that is all that we're going to be listening to we will quickly lose our ‘joy and peace in believing’ when our Lord intended for us to live in victory with His joy in our hearts.

The Lord Jesus told us about things that are going to happen ‘not so that we would be scared, but so that we would be prepared,’ as was often the word of encouragement spoken by a godly man who is now at home with the Lord Jesus. (Dr. Ed Hindson.)

And as clearly spoken by the Lord Himself:

Throughout the Scripture God has gone out of His way to tell us about future events for the soul purpose of showing to us who He is so that we can trust Him implicitly. He lives outside of time and from that domain He has seen human events throughout history and into the future.

All of those prophetical writings about events that have happened already, happened exactly as He said so with 100% accuracy!

The hundreds of prophetical statements about the life, the death, the burial, the resurrection, and the ascension of the Lord Jesus all came to pass exactly as stated! Therefore we can trust all that God has said about future events are going to happen exactly as determined.

And in the midst of all of this, here we are about to be among those for whom the Lord Jesus is going to come; taking us away from the judgements and the wrath prophesied to happen upon this earth while we are gone.

It is possible to be sure that your future is secure, and that you will be among those who can genuinely be comforted by the exhortation of the Lord Jesus to “look up, lift up your heads; for your redemption drawers near.”

👉 And here's how to be sure

Each year when I can hear the children start to sing, I know the end of the school term is soon. And that is for sure!

As we see the world spiralling out of control it is becoming very clear that something is about to happen here. How much more do we need to look up and find our comfort there? It's pretty gloomy down here, and there isn’t all that much to encourage us on a human level. But lifting up our heads and looking with great expectation for the One who has promised to come will give us every reason to continue to live faithfully with confidence one day at a time.

No matter how dark this world gets, with our heart and our minds in the right place; the brighter our “blessed hope” is going to be. Nobody can take that away from us!

Our beloved Lord Jesus is going to do exactly as He promised He would. It won’t be long now … our redemption is drawing oh, so near! Wouldn't it just be a wonderful thing if when He appears in the air for His people, He will find us occupied, ready and waiting!