Jude
24 Now
to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless
before the presence of his glory with great joy.
I love officiating at large family weddings. There’s nothing
more exciting than to watch a beaming father present his lovely daughter down
the aisle at the start of the ceremony. There’s a look in his eyes and in the
faces of the gathered audience that’s beautiful. It’s a highlight of the
wedding in my mind. At that moment, no one is happier to show off his girl than
the daddy.
When we come to the Scriptures, we find great comfort in
knowing that Christ wants to present us to the Father in a similar way. Not
only does he want to keep us strong until the end (1 Corinthians 1:8), but also
he wants to escort us before his Father’s throne when we reach the end of our
spiritual pilgrimage. And when he presents us before his glorious throne, eht
host of heaven admires our garments of Christ’s blood and righteousness. Then
as the Father sees his Son’s sacrifice and purity clothing our lives, he says
with bod satisfaction, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
The thought that Christ will lovingly present us to the
Father one day can give us enormous encouragement today. Knowing what awaits us
at the end helps us to persevere now. God has some incredible things prepared
for us (1 Corinthians 2:9). And the joy at the end will far outlast any trials
and heartaches that can happen to us at the moment. Temporal sorrows come in
the night, but eternal joy awaits us at dawn.
Dear friend, are you hurting today? Do troubles and grief
perplex you? Take delight in knowing that your escort to heaven’s throne is
waiting for you at the end of the journey. And he wants to show you off to his
Father. That’s phenomenal.
Written by H. Curtis McDaniel
