WEBVTT 00:04.684 --> 00:08.288 [SPEAKER_00]: in the last episode of this series on God's Promises. 00:09.089 --> 00:11.913 [SPEAKER_00]: Today we're looking at the promise of his return. 00:12.913 --> 00:17.857 [SPEAKER_00]: The suffering and pain we're right now experiencing is not for forever. 00:18.698 --> 00:22.881 [SPEAKER_00]: There is a conclusion to this story, to all of our stories. 00:23.682 --> 00:30.448 [SPEAKER_00]: And that conclusion is being written by a God so good, so loving, and so powerful. 00:30.928 --> 00:34.651 [SPEAKER_00]: That we know the story of humanity and triumphantly. 00:35.692 --> 00:43.603 [SPEAKER_00]: So may God fill us with hope, peace, and passion today, as we take time to focus on his return. 00:44.585 --> 00:46.908 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:16.702 --> 01:27.656 [SPEAKER_00]: Our scripture for today comes from John chapter 14 verses 2 and 3, scripture says, in my father's house are many rooms. 01:28.893 --> 01:34.196 [SPEAKER_00]: If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 01:35.136 --> 01:45.082 [SPEAKER_00]: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself that where I am, you may be also. 01:49.004 --> 01:56.288 [SPEAKER_00]: The second coming of Christ will mark the end of this age with resounding and final punctuation 01:57.929 --> 02:13.434 [SPEAKER_00]: First Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 16 says, 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. 02:15.917 --> 02:20.098 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus promises that He is coming back for you and me. 02:21.618 --> 02:25.499 [SPEAKER_00]: He's returning to make His Lordship known to all the earth. 02:27.159 --> 02:33.921 [SPEAKER_00]: Upon His return, He will destroy once and for all the destructive works of the enemy. 02:35.261 --> 02:44.983 [SPEAKER_00]: He's going to read the earth of the damage sin has caused and bring about the final restoration of all things to Himself. 02:47.580 --> 02:52.003 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus' return will be both powerful and triumphant. 02:53.284 --> 03:01.870 [SPEAKER_00]: It will be the time of sorrow for those who did not believe in Him and the time of rejoicing for us is bright. 03:03.757 --> 03:06.618 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus is coming back in all his glory. 03:07.478 --> 03:11.720 [SPEAKER_00]: Love sick for those who have been brought into his fold by faith. 03:13.160 --> 03:17.222 [SPEAKER_00]: You see, he's coming back for you because he loves you. 03:18.462 --> 03:25.565 [SPEAKER_00]: He belongs for the day when you can be with him, face to face, held back by nothing. 03:26.945 --> 03:31.027 [SPEAKER_00]: He's so overjoyed to walk in relationship with you right now. 03:32.159 --> 03:34.861 [SPEAKER_00]: But like you, he longs for something greater. 03:36.022 --> 03:43.587 [SPEAKER_00]: Like a bride groom patiently awaits the marriage ceremony, he's waiting, expectant for what has to come. 03:45.949 --> 03:49.091 [SPEAKER_00]: It's his love that is our source of hope. 03:50.552 --> 03:57.798 [SPEAKER_00]: It's his desire for our final restoration to him that has meant to give us cause for joy here on earth. 03:59.398 --> 04:03.443 [SPEAKER_00]: What you've known of life thus far is not all there is. 04:04.945 --> 04:11.354 [SPEAKER_00]: What you've experienced of God is just a drop in the vast ocean of his loving kindness. 04:13.505 --> 04:26.437 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus says, in John 14 verses 2 and 3, in my father's house, or many rooms, if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 04:27.438 --> 04:37.247 [SPEAKER_00]: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am, you may be also. 04:40.732 --> 04:43.433 [SPEAKER_00]: desperately wants you to be where he is. 04:44.853 --> 04:49.914 [SPEAKER_00]: If you are a believer, he's promised that you have a place in his kingdom. 04:51.214 --> 05:01.897 [SPEAKER_00]: You can have hope here that all the suffering trials, temptations in a heartache, you've experienced on earth, will pass away with his return. 05:03.752 --> 05:12.266 [SPEAKER_00]: Written within his promise to return, his promise of a life lived free from all the destruction sin has caused. 05:14.452 --> 05:20.037 [SPEAKER_00]: We're meant for relationship with our Savior, both here and in the age to come. 05:21.518 --> 05:28.785 [SPEAKER_00]: He's made a way for us to experience him both now and forever by his death and resurrection. 05:30.066 --> 05:32.969 [SPEAKER_00]: Your greatest joy should come from this truth. 05:34.310 --> 05:39.695 [SPEAKER_00]: Your highest calling is meant to be drawn from his promise of relationship. 05:41.497 --> 05:52.668 [SPEAKER_00]: all of eternity hinges on his promise to return, and he who gave up his life for you will return to lead you to the Father. 05:54.205 --> 06:01.792 [SPEAKER_00]: spend time in His presence today, experience the very God who will return in all His glory. 06:03.634 --> 06:15.184 [SPEAKER_00]: Live today in the light of His promise, and experience the love and hope of your God who is faithful to bring to fruition all that He's promised to. 06:38.808 --> 06:39.377 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 06:44.091 --> 06:50.633 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the powerful, hope-filled truth of Christ return. 06:52.193 --> 06:58.995 [SPEAKER_00]: John chapter 14 verses two and three says, In my father's house are many rooms. 07:00.176 --> 07:05.337 [SPEAKER_00]: If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 07:06.457 --> 07:08.798 [SPEAKER_00]: And if I go and prepare a place for you, 07:09.398 --> 07:16.161 [SPEAKER_00]: I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am, you may be also. 07:58.642 --> 08:01.905 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, where do you need hope today? 08:03.146 --> 08:08.390 [SPEAKER_00]: Where do you need the truth of Jesus' return to transform your emotions? 09:05.440 --> 09:10.742 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, let the truth of Christ return sink into your heart. 09:11.930 --> 09:16.551 [SPEAKER_00]: allow his truth to heal any place in your heart that feels hopeless. 09:18.252 --> 09:30.455 [SPEAKER_00]: Hebrews chapter 10 verse 23 says, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised his faithful. 09:53.592 --> 09:53.996 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 10:20.746 --> 10:27.910 [SPEAKER_00]: Looking toward the day of final restoration is meant to give you fuel to live in light of eternity. 10:29.210 --> 10:34.133 [SPEAKER_00]: This life on earth is but a vapor in the scope of your eternal life. 10:35.234 --> 10:37.555 [SPEAKER_00]: It's a dust blowing in the wind. 10:38.728 --> 10:40.670 [SPEAKER_00]: It doesn't mean today doesn't matter. 10:41.711 --> 10:45.515 [SPEAKER_00]: What it does mean is that you know how your life will turn out. 10:46.316 --> 10:48.118 [SPEAKER_00]: You know how the story ends. 10:49.579 --> 10:57.227 [SPEAKER_00]: May the glorious triumphant ending of your story produce steadfastness and hope in your heart today. 11:13.950 --> 11:16.812 [SPEAKER_00]: thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 11:17.352 --> 11:19.113 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with her 15. 11:20.014 --> 11:24.096 [SPEAKER_00]: As always, you can experience first 15 in a variety of ways. 11:24.797 --> 11:35.023 [SPEAKER_00]: Of course, you can always subscribe to this podcast, but you can also download our custom app, subscribe to our email list, or access the devotional on our website. 11:36.003 --> 11:41.608 [SPEAKER_00]: If you know anyone that could benefit from joining us here each day, would you share our first esteem with them? 11:42.328 --> 11:47.132 [SPEAKER_00]: We would be honored to get to help even more people connect with God each day. 11:48.313 --> 11:52.557 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek Him.