{"id":8966,"date":"2020-04-22T09:14:52","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T13:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=8966"},"modified":"2020-04-22T09:45:15","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T13:45:15","slug":"now-when-these-things-begin-to-happen-look-up-and-lift-up-your-heads-because-your-redemption-draws-near-luke-2128-nkjv-2","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/now-when-these-things-begin-to-happen-look-up-and-lift-up-your-heads-because-your-redemption-draws-near-luke-2128-nkjv-2","title":{"rendered":"“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28 NKJV)."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LIFT UP YOUR HEADS REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH<\/h3>\n\n\n
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After some of His disciples expressed admiration for the beauty of the Jerusalem Temple, Jesus told them that a day was coming when not one stone would be left upon another. The disciples asked when such a thing would happen. So Jesus described to them the signs of the end of the age. He told them that there would be false messiahs, and an increase of wars between nations. There would be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences. There would be persecutions of the saints and fearful sights and great signs in the heavens. And many more details, He gave them.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Yet as He concluded, Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to be anxious or discouraged when the world seemed to be declining into chaos and becoming more wicked. Instead, He told them to “look up,” essentially to set their minds on heavenly things all the more. He told them to “lift up your heads,” in other words, don’t be afraid or discouraged, chin up! Because “redemption draws near.” <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We know that the redemption of our souls has already come. For when we believed in Christ, our souls were redeemed. Yet, we await the redemption of our bodies on that Day when Christ returns (Rom. 8:23).<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As I was writing this devotion, I was humming a hymn that came out in the early ’70s by Gordon Jensen entitled, “Redemption Draweth Nigh.” The chorus goes like this:<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“Signs of the times are everywhere<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There’s a brand new feeling in the air<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Lift up your head redemption draweth nigh”<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I think Jesus approves of singing while looking up, don’t you?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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PRAYER: Dear Father, as we look around our world today, we see an increase in every sign that the Lord Jesus predicted. But we will not fear. For we have set our eyes on You. We look to You and all the more as the Day approaches. Our bodies join with the creation in groaning for the redemption that Your Son brings. Until then, may we long for His coming, yet work according to the Spirit that energizes us to witness. In Jesus’ name, amen.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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