But When We See Thee As Thou Art We’ll Praise Thee As We Ought

By far, the best part of joining a new body of believers is getting to hear so many testimonies of how God has drawn His people to Himself. There are saints who grew up deaf to the sweet truth they were surrounded by and others who stumbled across it while listening to a radio program for financial advice that happened to share a station with Alistair Begg. There are brothers who were ensnared in the superstitious works of Catholicism and sisters who were staunch atheists. People who believed at age 4 and others who came to faith well past 40. If anything is clear, it is that God has worked an absolute spiritual miracle in each soul that he has caused to sit in a pew at RBC.

I found myself tonight looking at the congregation gathered for prayer meeting and was truly struck by what I was seeing, a room full of miracles. And in this day where we hear of the church being riddled with every kind of false gospel, faulty theology, slippery slope of post-modern thinking, and unbelievable account after account of moral failure and apostasy, it is a miracle that God has kept these people. It is a miracle that God has not removed the lampstand at this church, or any other church for that matter.

And though I consider it a miracle, it is not a mystery.
“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.” (Rev 1:12-13)
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb 6:19-20)
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25)
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:31-32a)

Praise be to Jehovah who sees our frailty, knows our frame, and pours out His steadfast loving kindness to sustain us and keep us forever. We can never be snatched out of God’s hand for we have the intercession of a divine High Priest. Therefore, may we take heed, repent for abandoning the love we had at first, and do the works He commands of us to the glory of His gracious name.