Today begins a study we call “Concerning the End of Time”. We will examine prophecies from the New Testament regarding the future. Our focus will be the Scriptures related to the future as told by John the Baptist, Jesus and the apostles in the epistles. We’ll conclude with some key verses from Revelation. I don’t know the length of the study. The Spirit, we pray, will lead us. First, we look at John, the Baptist’s ministry. Scripture passages are from the New International Version.

John the Baptist
 
 Luke 1:16-17 “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
 
AS we consider our future from a Christian worldview, we’ll first focus on the Kingdom of God. “Kingdom” can be a very uncertain term as it relates to the Christian life. Is this about our life now? Or does it refer to the future? Could it shape our lives now and later? What did Jesus mean when he used “kingdom” in prophecies and parables? When did it, or when will it begin? How will we know?
   Hopefully these questions mean something to you. After all, Kingdom of God citizenship is an extraordinary gift and a privilege. From the Garden to the Promised Land to the New Heaven and earth, Scripture very precisely tells us God prepares a place fo his people. Then he gives it to them. We receive an inheritance we do not deserve because God is love.
   Hopefully you will respond to God’s gift with a deep desire to know more of the King and his Kingdom.
   Our Kingdom understanding begins with John the Baptist. In eternity past, God had arranged for John to be the bridge between the Old Testament and the New. He is the final prophet who must come on stage to announce the King has come.
   God will use John to prepare for the Christ. He will call the Jews to repentance and fuel their anticipation of the Messiah. The Savior’s prophecies, presence and power await for John to announce him to the world. God’s desire is for his people to expectantly and joyfully raise their hearts to receive his Son.
   John will be Elijah-like. 1 Kings records Elijah’s passion and power to awaken people to God. Elijah condemned Israel’s sins. He lived in a wilderness and revealed God’s judgment and salvation through great miracles, even a resurrection. John would also come out of a wilderness to preach repentance and awaken the Jews to God’s judgment and salvation.
   This Scripture also fulfills the Old Testament’s final prophecy: Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
   Dramatic change is coming to the earth. John was born to point to Jesus. The Jews will struggle to understand. Still, one day the wisdom of the righteous will transform many hearts. The Kingdom of God requires we know about and prepare for the King.
 

Read Revelation 19:6-22
 
Revelation 19:6-8 Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. 
 
WEDDINGS are beautiful occasions. The bride long plans. The groom steps into his place, and they are prayerfully joined into a one-flesh union God declared in Genesis. A flesh-to-flesh, spirit-to-spirit relationship between man and woman perfects God’s creation.
   God was in that first union. He had created it. He made it perfect. History has been God’s long plan to restore that sin-broken union. John’s vision describes that time!
   The wedding image is fitting, isn’t it? Jesus Christ, the Lamb, is joined with his bride the Church. The people come in white linen because his blood has cleansed them to holiness and righteousness. Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”
   Yes! Worship such a Savior who joins with us for eternity. You can trust such a marvelous perfect God who weds you into a perfect, holy, eternal union with Him.
 
Drink God’s Life Water
 
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
 
WHAT else is there to say? Trust your God. He has given himself entirely to you so that you may enter freely into his home. Will you accept his invitation? Go to him from wherever you are—rich or poor, happy or sad, sick or healthy, hopeless or hopeful, confused or decided, indifferent or determined, proud or humble – whatever your state of mind, body and soul, you can turn your heart to trust God.
   Yes, you can listen to the power of his living Word, Jesus Christ. You can experience the power of the Holy Spirit. You can feel in these words the expression of the Father’s love. Accept his invitation now to dwell with him. Anticipate a wonderful life with your heavenly Father. Trust his salvation in all he gives to you. After all, he gives you everything. Amen.
 
Isaiah 9:6-11 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The enthusiastic commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! 8 The Lord has spoken out against Jacob; his judgment has fallen upon Israel. 9 And the people of Israel and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know it. 10 They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone, and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.”   

Read Revelation 13:19-19:5
 
Revelation 15:1-8 Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. 2 I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O LORD God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. 4 Who will not fear you, LORD, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.” 5 Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. 7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.
 
REVELATION is God’s message to John about the events before Jesus comes to establish the new heaven and earth. The LORD has revealed in chapter 12 such signs as the woman (Israel and the church) and the dragon (Satan) in holy battle. John has also seen the signs of the seven seals and seven trumpets releasing God’s plagues over one-fourth and one-third of the earth respectively. These are signs of conflict between good and evil. The Father must judge and conquer sin before Jesus comes again.
   This new sign now points to the “last” plagues that will complete God’s just wrath. The result is salvation for those victorious over the beast. See, too, the great and marvelous signs of worship. As in chapter 4, heaven’s throne room is as a sea of glass. Harps will accompany heaven’s song of Moses, reflecting the prophet’s praise in Exodus 15 of God’s deliverance from Egypt’s slavery. In heaven, the new song is of God’s deliverance from sin’s slavery. The angels are messengers of God’s authority. They will come from the temple to distribute God’s final wrath upon Satan.
   The LORD’s glory is the manifestation of his power and presence. His glory fills the temple as when Solomon completed the first temple in 1 Kings 8:11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. There is no room for any unholy, impure presence when God fully manifests his glory to his own. Our Holy King will come to declare, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) because his righteous acts have been revealed. Out of God’s wrath comes his holy salvation to fill our souls forevermore.
          Are you saved in Jesus’ blood? Then sing your new song to God. Sing of the joy in your deliverance. The holy God has made you holy in his sight through the Son’s sacrifice. He has manifested his glory to fill your soul. Death and sin have no room in you, Jesus’ church. Let the world know of the cross. It is a great and wondrous sign. 

Read Revelation 8:7-13:18
 
Revelation 10:6-7 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. 7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”
 
“AH HA!” you’ve exclaimed. “Now I understand!” Some concept or process was a mystery to you. You heard many times, “This is how it’s done.” But you couldn’t quite learn what you needed to know. Then suddenly in one moment, you knew.
   There will come that day when God will suddenly be completely clear to the world. Millions of lost souls have heard the truth of God’s great salvation through Jesus Christ. Sadly, millions of souls have said, “I don’t understand, and I don’t want to know.”
   But one day, all people on earth will fully know who God is. And the world will cower in fear. They will know it is too late to say, “What must I do to be saved?”
   In contrast, God’s full revelation will be of great joy to his own. In a moment, all who are saved in Jesus’ blood will bow in reverent worship and celebrate the joy of their salvation. The mystery will be gone. God’s people will fully know God. 
 
The Lord’s Kingdom
 
Revelation 11:4-7 These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish. 7 When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.
 
TWO witnesses speak the power of God to an opposing world.  Who are they? Clues are in verse 6: They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.   
   Check out Elijah’s power in 1 Kings 17. He spoke a drought over Israel. Read again of Moses’ power in Exodus. He spoke water to blood. The law and the prophets do God’s will. These witnesses symbolize God’s Spirit power come upon certain men. And this power then comes upon the church.
   The church receives the power of the Spirit to witness. Although the vision is a temporary victory of evil over the witnesses who are the church, the vision concludes with the victorious church. One day will come for that final triumphant call, “And he will reign forever and ever.” This is the truth of the end of the age and the final triumph of Christ’s church over Satan’s opposition.
   You can apply this victory, also, to your life right now. If you feel persecuted and defeated, call on God to free you. Call on God’s power to redeem the circumstances. Live in the Lord’s victory now and forever.
 

Read Revelation 4-8:6
 
Revelation 4:4-5 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
 
WHEN you are in the midst of a severe thunder storm and bolts of lightning flash from the clouds to earth, do you consider God’s holiness and power? This is a consistent image throughout Scripture. One is God’s appearance to the Hebrews in Exodus 19:16 On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all the people trembled. And read in Psalms 77:18 Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Seven times, too, God declares his power and purity to Job with such words as Job 36:32-33 He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its target. 33 The thunder announces his presence; the storm announces his indignant anger.   
    The Bible also tells us that when the Jews, the psalmist and Job came face-to-face with God’s holiness, they could only respond in humble, contrite worship.
    Worship is heaven’s response to God. Worship is the purpose of the twenty-four elders. Crowned and dressed in perfection, these elders are heavenly creatures created to worship God. We may consider their number illustrates the full gospel message to the nations. First was Israel’s 12 tribes and then the 12 apostles – the Old Covenant and the New.
    Also, the number seven points to the Holy Spirit. The seven lamps that are the seven spirits is another name for the Holy Spirit. This, too, is a common reference throughout Scripture. The 66 books of the Bible written over some 20 centuries form one book defining God and his purposes. When God declares his majesty to such prophets as Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah, he uses the images of lightning, light, lampstands, fire and heavenly beings worshiping him. He does so here to John. And now we also know God’s holy power.
    How do you respond to God’s holiness? When you see and hear of storms do you consider our Lord is the Creator of those storms? Do you understand his authority to build up and break down? Are you aware your life is in his hands? Have you considered his gracious blessing to reveal himself to you?
   Do you remember, too, he calms the storms? Mark 4:41b “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Indeed, we worship our Holy God.

 

Read Revelation 1-3
 
Revelation 1:1-3 This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, 2 who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.
 
WE have read the gospels and epistles, which declare the divine traits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. With Jesus’ teachings, miracles, death, resurrection and ascension, the gospel is a revelation – a disclosure and declaration – of Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man. Without doubt, by this point in the New Testament, we know Jesus is alive.
    Then God gave John a different task. Instead of looking back on Jesus’ saving work, he was to reveal Jesus’ future work. This work includes issuing warnings to the churches, speaking judgment against all evil and promising eternal reward for all believers.
    John precisely tells us an angel – a messenger – has come to John to declare this is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Does this alert you? Are you ready to regard God’s message to you through John as trustworthy and true? Are you prepared for correction, judgment and victory?
    If so, God will bless you as you receive and respond to his Word. Yes, God blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says.
    When you heed the warnings, you will be at peace in God’s promises. You will know that those who do not hear and take to heart these words will be cursed.
    One reason many of us avoid this epistle, this letter to the church, is that it contains some very difficult imagery. We do not understand all that is written. Another reason we avoid the message is to not think of God’s wrath on the sinner. Perhaps we feel unworthy of God’s majesty as we are reminded of God’s power, beauty, truth and justice.
    But rejoice! In Jesus, we are alive in the Savior’s eternal blessings. By Jesus’ blood, we are made safe in the blessing of new life. Yes, we must heed the hard words. Know our work is to live in Jesus’ authority. Receive the privilege of the work in Jesus’ name.  

Read 1 John thru 3 John
 
1 John 4:14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
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1 John 4:16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
 
“HOW do you know the Bible is true?” Has anyone ever asked you that question? Have you asked the question? There are several ways to know the answer is, “Yes!”
   One of the ways is to listen to the New Testament writers. You will often see in the gospels and epistles such eye-witness statements as we have here, “We have seen with our own eyes.”
   John was the youngest disciple. And he became the longest living apostle of Jesus Christ. He walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the teaching, stood before the cross and entered the empty tomb. John witnessed Jesus risen. He ate with and listened to the Risen Savior. Then he watched Jesus ascend to heaven. He’s quite an eyewitness. We know he told the truth because he gave his life completely to Jesus. No one lives a suffering life for a lie.
   John has seen and heard. So he told the truth about Jesus. He has witnessed how much God loves us. That is why we have put our trust in his love. Watching God act through Jesus and the Spirit, John is convinced God is love. So he urges all who live in love to live in God because God lives in them.
   “Love” is an action word. Moses praised God: “With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed.” (Exodus 15:13a) Paul wrote: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) God’s love has moved through history to redeem his broken world. Live in God’s love, prepared to act on his behalf.
  
Not New, Still New
 
2 John 4-6 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. 5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
 
THIS epistle is to the “chosen lady and her children”. It is likely the lady is a church and the children are its members. John’s purpose, as with other epistles is to encourage them to continue walking in the truth. Many false teachers threatened God’s good work. The Liar is always at work.
   John knew the power of God’s loving truth. Consider how his life had changed with God’s love. What had he known about loving others before Jesus walked into his life? What did he learn about loving others as he saw people throw rocks at Jesus and curse him? What did he know about love until he watched Jesus love those who hated him and killed him? What did he know about love until he saw the Power of Love change lives, especially his own?
   John personally knew Jesus’ great love. He wanted to help others know love was not a simple word of emotion but a profound work of God to deliver the good news of salvation.
 

Read Hebrews 10:19 thru 13
 
Hebrews 11:36-39 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.
 
THIS is a very difficult picture of suffering, isn’t it? The Hebrews author testified of the faithful men and women in the Old Testament. Many who declared God’s truth against the world’s desires suffered terribly.
   These great followers of God believed in God’s Messiah promises. They had no proof that he would come through a virgin. They had no evidence of a child born in poverty who grew to become both a loved and hated rabbi who died on a cross. Those faithful witnesses knew nothing of a resurrected, ascended Lord Jesus, Son of God.
   The great names of the Old Testament had great faith, and God counted them as his. God’s word was sufficient for them. They were faithful to believe and live under God’s commands even as they were brutalized and tortured. The Bible’s story also tells us these people were far from perfect. Yet, they were faithful to proclaim God’s Word in the Spirit’s power.
   How much easier is it for us to have faith than they? We have historical and spiritual evidence of Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. We know God’s promises to the patriarchs and prophets have come true. We can believe his future promises will happen.  
   That’s one reason we’ve been reading God’ Love Story, isn’t it? We see more clearly what God has done throughout history. We know what God has said and what God has done. The unchanging God will not stop fulfilling his promises.
   And look to the evidence of God’s activity in your life. Be of faith to trust God will complete his promises of salvation. He always has.
 
Angels in the House?
 
Hebrews 13:1-3 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
 
DO angels sometimes come to our homes to measure our godly service? It did happen in Genesis, where both Abraham and Lot had the opportunity to care for and protect the angels that came into their presence. Perhaps he still does this. Another meaning for “angels” is “messenger”. So this instruction could instruct church members to welcome strangers because they may be gospel messengers.  
   These instructions exhibit God’s heart to both protect the teaching of the gospel and to care for the needy. Active evangelists needed safe homes to find food and shelter, safe from persecution. Plus, the Bible has a strong message of caring for those to whom life has dealt a harsh blow. God establishes a number of laws for his people to care for and feed widows, orphans, and others in need. Jesus’ ministry was often amid the lowest classes of society. The poor are everywhere and need some measure of care.
   Yes, sometimes people are lazy and make bad choices that lead to their poverty. God will deal with them. But our hearts must be tuned to understand how God wants us to respond to particular situations. Many people have huge struggles from circumstances they can’t control. Yes, poverty is the result of difficult conditions in a world of sin. God wants us to help those in need the best we can. He doesn’t want us to judge the poor—just care for them.
 

Read Hebrews 6:14-10:18
 
Hebrews 9:14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
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THE Hebrews writer is focused on connecting the Old Testament, the Old Promise, with the New Testament, the New Promise. He reminded the Jews, who became Christians, of God’s sacrificial requirements to atone for their sin. As we know, with the Old Covenant, God required the blood from animals. With the New Covenant, God required the blood from his very own son.
   What do you think? Is there any sense of awe and worship n your heart as you consider the Creator Father God killing his Son for you? Yes, Scripture says, He (Jesus) gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. (1 Timothy 2:6a) Jesus did submit to the Father’s will. He did volunteer to take up the cross. That is what the Father commanded. Jesus obeyed. This happened in God’s purpose. God killed his Son for you.
   We don’t say it that way. We use “sacrifice”, “death” and “blood”, but God the Father caused it. Why would he do that? He did so because he loves you that much. He loves you beyond your understanding. He was willing to take his Son to the altar and kill him for you because God so loved the world, he gave his only Son. (John 3:16a)
   That’s what he did. Jesus died on a cross to atone for your sins, to save you from death.
   Isn’t this why we are celebrating his birth in a manager on this day? Let’s remember why he was named Jesus. Luke 1:31 “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”…69 (Mary exalted) “He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David “… 2:11 (The angels announced.) “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
   Born for you to die for you to rise for you to ascend for you, the Savior awaits his return for you.

Read Hebrews 1-6:13
 
Hebrews 3:12-14 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
 
LIFE is a challenge. Be careful and be alert. Help each other stay true to God. Share in his victory as you live eternally with Jesus.
   That is the essential message the unknown Hebrews author gives to us. People in the early church needed to hear these words because they dealt with many physical and verbal assaults on their new belief. The same remains true for us today. These are also words also teach us.
   Hebrews and the other epistles were written to defend against assaults from outside and inside the church. This Scripture strengthens us for each day’s battle. The culture wants us to believe that seeking and obeying God is foolishness, rooted in our weaknesses. Sometimes our own faith can ask, “Am I really sure of God’s gracious gospel?”
   After the first glow of salvation, real life can weaken our joy. Our own pride may cause us to neglect or even disdain spiritual disciplines. We may not see sin’s great abuse to oppose our journey in God’s love. Or a casual approach to God’s holiness can weaken our desire to be more holy as he is holy. (1 Peter 1:15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.) To see God as less than he is will negate his authority. When we do that, we open our lives to temptation. These are some weapons our sin nature uses to assault our faith.
   Be alert. Cancel the assaults with God’s holy Word. It is all you need to live joyfully with Jesus.
 
A King Who Knows Struggles
 
Hebrews 4:14-17 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
 
ONE who desires to play a piano well will seek an instructor who knows the piano and knows how to teach the art of playing. A student doesn’t pay for lessons from a person with little knowledge or passion for piano. It would be a waste of time and money to learn from a less than average instructor. To play the best music possible, one must begin with the best instructor available. The best instructors usually have learned to overcome failure and disappointment to become a better musician and teacher.
   All of us who truly want to learn, desire to learn from someone who knows the topic extremely well. We appreciate one who has experienced difficulty and knows the victory that comes with persevering through doubts and disappointments.
   Jesus is the most exceptional King of all time. What other king has even lived in difficulty? Very few. Many earthly kings have grown up far away from the difficulties their subjects experienced. Even more, what King has suffered, died and risen again? None.
   You can trust the King who has overcome the cross and the tomb. No issue is too much for him. All temporary defeats in life are transformed to total victory in Jesus Christ.