After them Zadok the
son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of
Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son
of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After
him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber.
THE STUDY:
The East Gate is the one the sunrise would
reveal itself to first. How symbolic this is to the idea of Christ return. We
know that the trumpet will sound and from the east He will come on a white
horse.
For that morning weary
saints all along have waited and longed, straining their eyes to catch the
first glimpse of the Bright and Morning Star (Jesus). Wicked servants have
said, “Where is the promise of his
coming?” (2 Peter 3:4) but “The
Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient
toward you, not wishing that any should perish” (2 Pet. 3:9). “The night is far gone, the day is at hand.”
(Romans 13:12) It is high time to be aroused from our laziness, for already the
long-expected midnight cry is ringing through the world, “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to
meet him.” (Matt. 25:6) The shout of the Lord, the voice of the archangel,
and the trump of God, will soon resound through the vaulted heavens, announcing
the return of the long-absent One, and ushering in the morning. But for many it
will be the beginning of the darkest night earth has ever known.[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY
WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that as the East Gate is the first to embrace the morning sun we (believers) will be the first to embrace the SON of God when he returns to take his children home. Let us be ready because it will come like a thief in the night, or a blink of an eye.
APPLICATION:
As a parent we hear our children say some of the
funniest things. But there are times when they can say some of the most
profound truths ever heard. My son Logan and I were talking one day about
death. I was sharing with him that everyone will die at some point in time. For
some it will be like going off to sleep and waking up in the arms of Jesus. For
others it will be painful and unexpected.
I shared with him that I would like
to just lay down in my bed and drift off to sleep and then wake up to the face
of Jesus. He smiled and said with a convincing voice, “NOT ME!” Now, as a
parent and a minister this was a little alarming for me. I said, “Why not?” He
replied as if he had thought about this for a long time and was anticipating
this question. He said, “I don’t want to experience death! I want to rise up
and meet Jesus in the sky!” I smiled and said, “AMEN!”
We all will experience death or,
like my son Logan wishes for, we will rise up and meet Jesus in the sky. Whatever
the case may be, let us be ready. Let us embrace that morning SON and then live
a life that resonates the glory that comes from Him. Let it shine, let it
shine, let it shine.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Ironside, H. A. (1913). Notes on the Book
of Nehemiah (49–50). New York: Loizeaux Bros.
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