"When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."
2 Thessalonians 1:10
Our lovely song, "One Day," is still making melody in my heart. It reminds me of all the marvelous things our Lord Jesus has done for us and will continue to do for those who believe in Him and do His will until that day (one day) when He will be glorified in His saints. This beautiful song describes the life of Jesus our Lord and His second coming, His virgin birth that was prophesied and fulfilled.
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (Matt. 1:22-23)"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law."(Galatians 4:4)
He dwelt among men and humbled Himself.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 butEmptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philipins 2:5-8)
Since He was born of a woman, lived and suffered on earth as a man, He has become our perfect example to follow. This song also describes His death on the cross at Golgotha or Calvary.
"And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.' 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, 'You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.' 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.' 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.'" (Matt. 27:33-35)"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left." (Luke 23:33)
He was nailed to a tree and died there, on the cross.
"So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."' (John 20:25)
Through the blood He shed, He became our Redeemer.
Because He became our Redeemer, we have access to the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of God's Grace.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[b] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:3-7)
After His death, the body of Christ was left alone in the garden tomb, where it rested, suffering no more.
"And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid." (Mark 15:42-47)
His death, burial, and resurrection are the fundamental truths of the Gospel that we must believe.
They are the Truth by which all men may be saved if they hold fast to it.
"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." (1 Cor. 15:1-10)
The grave could conceal Him no longer.
The stone was rolled away by a mighty angel, although it was extremely large. When Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome entered the tomb,
"They saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter... " (Mark 16:1-9).
Following His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven.
"And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-11)
His resurrection from the dead is the crowning, culminating proof that He is both Lord and Christ, the Son of God.
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36)"Concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 1:3-4)
Thus, one day the trumpet will sound for His coming.
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
On that wonderful and glorious day, He will shine in all of His glory and bring us closer to our beloved ones in Christ. At the sound of the trumpet, the dead will be raised imperishable and will be changed.
"Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
On that day, He will appear the second time, not as a sin-offering, but for salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for Him!
"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27-28)
CONCLUSION:
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, came to earth to die and save us from the wrath of God because He loved us. Because He loved and wanted to save us, He was buried and arose to take our sins away that we might be justified. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Until that day when He comes again to take us home with Him, let us be grateful for what He has done for us. Furthermore, let us be compeled to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
- Fully pleasing to Him.
- Bearing fruit in every good work.
- Increasing in the knowledge of God.
- Being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might.
- Bearing with all endurance, patience and joy.
- Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:10-15)
I hope the precious words of this song, "One Day," stir your heart and mind the way it does me.
One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin:
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain;
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree,
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected,
Bearing my sins, my Redeemer is He!
One day they left Him alone in the garden;
One day He rested from suffering free.
Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, My Savior is He.
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer;
One day the stone rolled away from the door.
Then He arose; over death He had conquered,
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming;
One day the skies with His glory will shine.
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Chorus
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified, freely forever:
One day He’s coming–O glorious day!
Luci
