Be Vigilant and Pray!

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have 

the strength to stand before the Son of Man.”

~ Luke 21:36

John said: An angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the street. On the either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.

This was the vision or revelation of the new heaven and the new earth, as the old one has passed away!

How many of us shall be worthy to dwell in this Kingdom of eternal glory?

Today is the last day in the Church liturgical calendar before the Advent Season commences. The scriptural readings present the eschatological account or the end time in which the good shall be rewarded for their love and faithfulness and the bad will suffer the punishment of eternal damnation.

While this narration might be frightening and terrifying, the reality is that God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to die for us and whosoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Regrettably, many are called but few are chosen because of our stubbornness and godlessness!

Today is yet another opportunity that our God is presenting to us again and this time, it is the Son of God that is speaking directly to our hearts, pleading and urging us at the same time to “Be vigilant.”

We must be vigilant and never get drowsy or lethargic in the practice of our faith!

We must be vigilant to always love no matter our circumstances!

We must be vigilant and remain faithful

We must be vigilant and remain hopeful

We must be vigilant and exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit

We must be vigilant and avoid evil

We must be vigilant and avoid hatred

We must be vigilant and continue to help those in need.

The Revelation of St. John’s account of heaven even though hardly completely comprehensible to the human hearts, nevertheless, manifest to all mankind that God is faithful and trustworthy and those who run to him shall never be disappointed.

Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods;

In his hands are the depths of the earth and the tops of the mountains are his.

His is the sea, for he has made it and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

My beloved, as you step out today, think about what Jesus Christ is asking of all of us; to be vigilant and never lose hope, because as long as we look up to him, the almighty God shall give us the help necessary for us to wait in joyful hope for that day in which we all shall receive the reward of eternal life.

May the love of our God guide and direct every of our actions, thoughts and words today, so that we too may bring glory to the name of the God we serve, as did the Saints of God before us. And we ask all these through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen!

@peternhelenodeh

Ref: Revelation 22: 1-7, Luke 21: 34- 36, Psalm 95