3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:3-5)
I had planned to revolve my life about event promotion this year. My own personal events for work and Christian rock events for my kingdom service. I had an extensive plan for concert promoting that ranged from intense local promoting for a few bands to expanded promoting on our site for as many Christian rock tours as I could keep up with. The perfect plan, using my passion to serve God and do something I love for a living.
In a matter of days all of that was destroyed. Most of the concerts I was promoting were cancelled. All of my personal events were cancelled. Everything I had put hours and hours of time and labor into has been wiped out until further notice.
Many of us are lost right now who depend on events like concerts, conventions, tradeshows, and other gathering events for a living. It feels like every time I find a speck of hope to cling to, a new declaration comes down, snatches it from me, and destroys it before my eyes.
Yet, we still have hope. We always have hope. We have the almighty creator of the universe working for us. How he is working right now might not be so clear, but he is still working for us. If this global event impeded on his perfect will being completed, it would not happen. This means that God’s perfect will is going to be completed even in all this chaos. Do not forget that.
We were not promised a perfect care free life. In fact, we were told that our lives would be difficult if we decided to follow Jesus. The mission we have been given is still valid. We must continue to love and spread the gospel through words and deeds, save as many of our brothers and sisters are we can, and go home to eternity when our task is done.
Yes, eternity is all yours! It is there waiting for you! All of these long painful days are just a blink compared to eternity. All of these panic filled memories will be nonexistent there. Take hope in what awaits you after this life, and keep to the mission so we can bring as many people as possible with us there.
Passover and Easter are on the horizon. I do not think that is an accident. Let us all pray every day building up until Easter. We need to fill the earth with prayers, hope, and strength. Pray for this world. Pray for healing. Pray for ease of fear and panic. Don’t forget to tell God how much you love and how thankful you are for what he’s given you. He has given us so much, none of it we deserve or earned.
Fill the heavens with your prayers. Easter awaits us. The stone has been rolled away and our savior lives to intercede for us always!
