August 22 🌿 “WHO GOD IS TO ME” MY STRENGTH 📖 Psalm 73:26 (LLV) — “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” There are limits to our strength. We may not notice them when life is easy. We make plans. Carry responsibilities. Solve problems. Keep moving. And sometimes we begin to believe we are stronger than we really are. Then life reminds us. “My flesh and my heart may fail.” Asaph does not pretend otherwise. Bodies grow weary. Emotions become exhausted. Courage sometimes falters. There are moments when even the strongest person must finally admit, “I cannot do this on my own.” But Asaph does not stop with what can fail. He turns immediately to the One who cannot. “But God…” Two small words change everything. My strength may fail. But God. My confidence may weaken. But God. I may reach the end of what I can carry. But God. He is “the strength of my heart.” God does not merely give strength from somewhere far away. Asaph says God Himself is his strength. There is a freedom in realizing that we do not have to be strong enough for everything. We were never asked to be. There are burdens too heavy for us. Questions too large for us. Journeys too difficult for us to walk in our own strength. And perhaps sometimes we must reach the end of our strength before we discover how faithfully God has been holding us. Then Asaph adds something beautiful: “And my portion forever.” A person's portion was what belonged to him. His inheritance. His possession. The thing upon which his future rested. Asaph looks at everything that can disappear and says, in effect, “Even if everything else is taken away, I still have God.” And if I have Him, I have what matters most. Our bodies will not remain strong forever. Circumstances will change. Things we depend upon today may someday be gone. But God does not diminish with time. When our strength is small, His is not. When our hands can no longer hold everything, we discover that He has been holding us all along. A new beginning sometimes starts with three honest words—“I am weak”—followed by two far greater ones: “But God.” Reflection: Where am I exhausting myself trying to be strong enough, instead of allowing God to be the strength of my heart? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that I do not have to face every burden in my own strength. When my body grows tired, my courage weakens, or my heart feels overwhelmed, remind me that You remain. Teach me to depend upon Your strength instead of pretending I have enough of my own. Whatever changes around me, let me always know that You are my strength and my portion forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Kitchen Newsletter Good day, Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God. Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word. What does God look like? It is a simple question, but Scripture gives us an answer that is far more concrete than we often realise. The Bible calls God invisible. Yet Scripture also tells us that the invisible God has made Himself known—not merely through ideas, doctrines, or written sentences, but through a Person. John, on the island of Patmos, saw Him. “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me…” And what John saw was astonishing: a figure with a head and hair, eyes, feet, a voice, hands, a face and a mouth. John was describing the appearance of Jesus Christ—the living Word of God. Revelation 1:12–17 This is why Scripture says: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3 And again: “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 So we can say: The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God. The Scriptures Reveal a Person This changes the way we should read Scripture. We are accustomed to reading the Bible primarily as a collection of words, teachings, commandments, promises and historical accounts. But Scripture itself tells us that the Scriptures testify about a Person. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 The Scriptures are therefore not merely information about God. They testify about Jesus Christ, the living Word. Consider one example. John saw the eyes of Christ and wrote: “His eyes were like blazing fire.” Revelation 1:14 That is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But Scripture also says: “Our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 The description of the Body therefore becomes a revelation about God Himself. The same principle runs through the Scriptures: the details of the Body of the Word testify about the Person of the Word and reveal the invisible Father. Paul writes: “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 The “face of Christ” becomes a point of revelation—the Body of the Word revealing the invisible God. Scripture Must Be Unfolded This is where something particularly provocative begins to emerge. What if the Scriptures are not simply information about God, but the Father's script for revealing Himself? Psalm 119:130 says: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 The Word must be unfolded. We can read a Scripture without necessarily seeing the revelation contained within it. We can know the sentence without knowing the Person whom the sentence reveals. That is the difference between merely reading Scripture and receiving revelation. The detailed descriptions of the Body of the Word are therefore not decorative language. They are scriptural descriptions that can be unfolded to reveal the Father. Paul describes this revelation as: “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 So the purpose of the unfolding is not simply to give us more biblical information. It is to give us the revelation knowledge of the Father. The Body of the Word: White Like Wool and Snow Consider the description John gives: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.” Revelation 1:14 This is a detailed description of the Body of the Word. But John is not alone in seeing this. Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and wrote: “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” Daniel 7:9 Then Song of Solomon gives another description: “His appearance is like Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 5:15 Lebanon was associated with its mountainous, snow-covered appearance. The Scriptures are therefore giving us a repeated picture. The Body of the Word is white like wool, as white as snow. And because Christ is: “the exact representation of his being” Hebrews 1:3 the description of Christ also becomes a revelation concerning the invisible God. This is why the details matter. The head matters. The hair matters. The eyes matter. The face matters. The hands matter. The feet matter. The mouth matters. The voice matters. The entire Body becomes a vocabulary through which Scripture speaks about the Person of the Word. The Body Is More Than a Description Every detailed description of the Body of the Word is also a Scripture because it testifies about the Person of the Word. Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 Therefore, the description of His whiteness is not simply a physical observation. It is a testimony. It is a Scripture. It is a figure of speech. It is a revelation waiting to be unfolded. And Scripture gives us a principle for understanding this: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Matthew 13:35 God uses visible and natural things to communicate invisible and spiritual realities. The Body of the Word is therefore not merely something we look at. It is something Scripture teaches us to understand. The Father Is Speaking Through the Body Isaiah gives us another remarkable statement: “The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants.” Isaiah 66:14 Why the hand? Because the hand is part of the body. The hand becomes a doorway into understanding the Body of the Word. And the Body becomes a doorway into understanding the Person of the Word. And the Person of the Word reveals the invisible Father. Body → Person → Father. This is why I believe Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church through the detailed descriptions of His Body. He is continually making the Father known. Jesus said: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9 And the Holy Spirit does not speak independently of Christ. Jesus said: “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” John 16:14 The Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known. And Paul tells us: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10 So there are depths in God that the Holy Spirit searches and reveals. Scripture Is God's Script for His Work There is another dimension to this revelation. The Scriptures are not merely records of what God has done. They are also the script through which His purposes are fulfilled. Again and again, Jesus said: “It is written…” Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 And concerning His ministry: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 The Scriptures therefore have a relationship with God's performance on Earth. When the Father has an intention, He opens Scripture according to that intention. When He is doing a work, He brings particular Scriptures into revelation. When the Spirit speaks to the churches, He speaks through what is being revealed: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7 This makes the present question very important: What is the Spirit saying to the Church through the Scriptures He is opening? And if Christ is presently revealing Himself through the detailed descriptions of His Body, then these revelations deserve our attention. The Body of the Word Is Our Inheritance The Father has not given us Christ merely so that we can know facts about Him. He has given us Christ so that we can know Him. The Body of the Word is therefore not something we should approach casually. It is an inheritance. It is a revelation. It is an invitation to know the Person of the Word in greater detail. The Scriptures testify about Him. The Holy Spirit reveals Him. The Father is seen in Him. And the more the Scriptures are unfolded, the more light we receive concerning the Person of Christ and the glory of the invisible Father. So perhaps the question is no longer simply: “Do you read the Bible?” The deeper question is: “Do you recognise the Person whom the Scriptures are revealing?” Because the Bible is testifying. The Spirit is speaking. The Scriptures are being unfolded. And behind the revelation stands a Person: Jesus Christ, the living Word of God—the image of the invisible God. Listen to The Kitchen Podcast Continue this exploration of The Body of the Word on The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye, available on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word. celebrating the Body of the Word #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #worldwide #moneymindset

The Original Corruption It started with Adam. When he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16–17), something fundamental broke — not just in him, but in every person who would come after him. God had warned him plainly: "For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." In Hebrew, that word for die carries the sense of separation. God wasn't just describing physical death. He was describing a rupture — a severing of humanity from Him and from the life He had designed us to live. That rupture is what the Bible calls sin. And it didn't stay contained to one man. It became the inheritance every human being receives at birth — a nature that resists God's principles and the order He built into creation. A Virus in the System Here's a picture that makes this easier to grasp: think about how malware infects a device. A virus slips into your phone or computer, quietly replicates itself, and starts modifying the files and programs already running there. Once it's embedded, it doesn't just sit still — it starts stealing information, hijacking processing power, and rerouting commands to serve its own purpose. Over time, the device stops functioning the way it was built to. It's still your phone. It just isn't working right anymore. That's an accurate picture of what sin did to human nature. We're not broken beyond recognition — we're still bearing the image of our Creator. But something foreign got in, and now we find ourselves doing the very things we didn't intend to do, and failing to do the things we know we should. Paul described this internal conflict with startling honesty: "For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing" (Romans 7:18–20). If you've ever felt that tension — wanting to be better than you are and running headlong into your own limitations — you're not alone. You're describing the default program every human being runs. https://a.co/d/0dJqZ3x8

Joshua 1:1-9 1 Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses. 4 Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea. 5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant...

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 20) 1. Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3. It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4. The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7. The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. 8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 9. Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11. Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14. “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15. There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18. Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20. Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21. An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. 22. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24. A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29. The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

📌 Today's Readings are from the Book of 2 Kings 17–18 | Galatians 4 📌 👇 Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading) 👇 2 Kings 17 The Consequences of Persistent Rebellion 2 Kings 17 records one of the most significant turning points in the history of God's people—the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria. After generations of rejecting the Lord, the nation experiences the judgment that God had repeatedly warned would come through His prophets. The chapter is not simply a historical account of military defeat; it is a theological explanation of why the nation fell. The final king of Israel reigns during a time when Assyria grows increasingly powerful. Eventually, Samaria is besieged, the people are carried into exile, and the northern kingdom comes to an end. Yet the inspired writer makes it clear that Assyria is only the instrument. The true reason for Israel's downfall is persistent covenant unfaithfulness. The chapter pauses to explain Israel's long history of rebellion. Despite God's continual faithfulness, the people repeatedly chose idolatry, ignored His commandments, rejected His prophets, and followed the practices of the surrounding nations. Again and again, the Lord patiently called them to repentance. He warned them through Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea, and many other prophets. Yet they hardened their hearts and refused to return. God's judgment, therefore, is not sudden or unfair. It comes only after centuries of patience and repeated opportunities for repentance. The exile demonstrates that God's holiness requires Him to deal with sin while His patience reveals His desire to save rather than destroy. The chapter concludes by describing the resettlement of the land by foreign peoples who adopt a mixture of pagan worship and limited acknowledgment of the Lord. This blending of truth and idolatry becomes another reminder that God desires wholehearted devotion rather than divided allegiance. Theologically, 2 Kings 17 reveals both God's justice and His extraordinary patience. The Lord faithfully keeps both His promises of blessing for obedience and His warnings of judgment for persistent rebellion. The chapter also demonstrates that outward religion without genuine faithfulness can never substitute for wholehearted obedience. This chapter points to Christ, who bore the judgment that sinful humanity deserved. Israel experienced exile because of covenant unfaithfulness, but Jesus endured separation and judgment on the cross so that those who trust Him might be reconciled to God forever. Through Christ, believers are brought into a new covenant founded upon His perfect obedience rather than their own. For believers today, 2 Kings 17 reminds us not to take God's patience for granted. His mercy invites repentance, not complacency. We are called to reject every form of idolatry and remain wholly devoted to the Lord. In Christ, we have received grace beyond measure, and our response should be faithful obedience flowing from grateful hearts. 2 Kings 18 Trusting God Above Every Earthly Power 2 Kings 18 introduces the reign of Hezekiah, one of Judah's most faithful kings. In sharp contrast to many of his predecessors, Hezekiah wholeheartedly seeks the Lord and leads the nation through a season of genuine spiritual reform. He removes idols, destroys the high places, and restores proper worship according to God's Word. His leadership demonstrates that true revival begins when God's people return to wholehearted obedience. The chapter emphasizes that Hezekiah trusted the Lord with exceptional faith. Rather than simply maintaining religious traditions, he actively removed everything that competed with God's rightful place in the nation. Even objects that had once served a legitimate purpose were removed when they became idols. His actions remind us that anything replacing devotion to God must be surrendered, regardless of its history or significance. Because of Hezekiah's faithfulness, God blesses his reign. Yet obedience does not eliminate opposition. The powerful Assyrian Empire eventually invades Judah, placing enormous pressure upon the nation. Humanly speaking, Judah appears defenseless against such overwhelming military strength. The Assyrian commander attempts to undermine Judah's confidence through intimidation and deception. He mocks Hezekiah's trust in God, questions the Lord's ability to save His people, and encourages surrender rather than faith. His strategy is spiritual as well as military, seeking to replace confidence in God with fear and doubt. Throughout the chapter, the central question becomes this: Will God's people trust the Lord when circumstances appear impossible? The enemy's arguments sound persuasive from a human perspective, yet they ignore the sovereign power of the living God. Hezekiah's response is marked by restraint and quiet trust. Rather than engaging in fearful debate, the people remain silent according to the king's instruction. The chapter closes with the crisis unresolved, preparing the reader for God's remarkable deliverance in the chapters ahead. Theologically, 2 Kings 18 teaches that genuine faith is demonstrated not only during seasons of blessing but also in moments of overwhelming opposition. The chapter highlights the importance of removing idols, trusting God's promises, and refusing to allow fear to replace faith. This chapter points to Christ, who perfectly trusted the Father in every circumstance. Jesus faced opposition, temptation, and impossible situations without wavering in His confidence. He is the greater King who leads His people not merely against earthly enemies but to victory over sin, death, and Satan through His perfect obedience and finished work. For believers today, 2 Kings 18 reminds us that faithfulness to God does not guarantee an easy life, but it does guarantee God's presence. We will face voices that question God's promises and encourage compromise, yet we are called to trust the Lord above every earthly power. In Christ, we have a King who has already won the ultimate victory, giving us confidence to stand firm regardless of the challenges before us. Galatians 4 — Adopted as Sons Through the Christ Galatians chapter 4 continues Paul's explanation of the believer's freedom in the Christ, the Son of God. Having established that righteousness comes by faith rather than by the Law, Paul now reveals the intimate relationship believers have with God through adoption into His family. The chapter contrasts slavery under the Law with the freedom of sonship, demonstrating that the redemptive plan has always pointed toward a personal relationship with God through His Son rather than a life of religious bondage. The chapter begins with the illustration of an heir who, while still a child, lives under guardians and restrictions until the appointed time. Paul uses this picture to explain that before the coming of the Christ, God's people lived under the supervision of the Law. The Law served an important purpose, but it was temporary. It prepared people for the coming of the Son of God, who would bring the fullness of God's redemptive plan. At the perfect time in history, God sent His Son into the world. The Christ entered humanity, fulfilled the requirements of the Law, and accomplished redemption for those who were under its condemnation. Through His work, believers are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of God. Christian living begins with this new identity. The Son of God has not simply forgiven sinners; He has welcomed them into His family. Paul emphasizes the privilege of adoption. Believers are no longer distant from God but are able to know Him as their loving Father. The Holy Spirit confirms this relationship by producing confidence, assurance, and intimacy with God. The redemptive plan does not merely change a believer's legal standing before God; it transforms the relationship completely. Those who belong to the Christ become heirs of all that God has promised. The chapter then expresses Paul's concern that the Galatian believers were drifting back toward religious bondage. Having experienced the freedom found in the Christ, they were allowing themselves to become entangled again in regulations and external observances. This saddened Paul because it represented a return to slavery after having experienced true freedom. Christian living is never sustained through legalism but through continual dependence upon the grace of the Son of God. Paul reminds the Galatians of the love they once shared and recalls how they had joyfully received him when he first preached the gospel. His concern is not personal rejection but their spiritual well-being. Like the Christ, Paul longs to see believers fully mature in their faith. The redemptive plan is not complete until the character of the Son of God is increasingly formed within His people. Toward the end of the chapter, Paul uses an illustration from the lives of Abraham's two sons to explain the difference between living under the Law and living under God's promise. One son represents human effort and bondage, while the other represents God's promise fulfilled by grace. This comparison demonstrates that believers belong to the family established through God's promise rather than through human achievement. The Son of God fulfills the promise, and those who trust in Him become children of the promise as well. The chapter concludes by reminding believers that they are not children of slavery but children of freedom. Their identity is no longer defined by striving to earn God's acceptance but by receiving His grace through the Christ. Christian living flows from that secure relationship rather than attempting to achieve it. Throughout Galatians chapter 4, the Christ is revealed as the One who brings believers into God's family, secures their inheritance, and frees them from the bondage of legalism. The redemptive plan moves from law to grace, from slavery to sonship, and from fear to joyful fellowship with God. For believers today, this chapter reminds us to live in the freedom the Christ has secured for us. Christian living is rooted in our identity as God's beloved children, not in our ability to keep religious rules. We are encouraged to reject every form of spiritual bondage and to embrace the confidence that comes from knowing the Son of God. As we walk daily in the assurance of our adoption, we experience the joy, freedom, and intimacy that God's redemptive plan has provided through the Christ. #DailyBibleReading #OpenYourBible #StudyTheWord #ScriptureForToday #FaithJourney #GodsWord #BibleTime #WalkWithGod

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 20) 1. Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3. It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4. The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7. The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. 8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 9. Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11. Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14. “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15. There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18. Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20. Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21. An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. 22. Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23. Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24. A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25. It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29. The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

Heaven Will Be Worth the Wait There is a day coming for every child of God when faith will become sight, hope will become reality, and the long journey home will finally be over. Whatever trials we endure in this present life, whatever tears we shed, whatever prayers seem to wait unanswered, there is a glorious promise before us: Heaven will be worth the wait. The Bible does not describe eternity as an endless existence floating upon clouds. It presents something far greater—a restored creation, the presence of God, the glory of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of our bodies, the reunion of God’s people, and a world where sin, suffering, death, and sorrow are gone forever. The Greatest Gift: We Will See Jesus Above everything else, Heaven is glorious because Jesus will be there. Paul wrote that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus Himself promised His disciples: “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” —John 14:3, KJV Imagine that moment. The One whom we have trusted without seeing, we will finally see face to face. The One whose name we have worshiped, whose Word we have believed, and whose grace has carried us through our darkest days will stand before us in glory. The Apostle John tells us: “We shall see him as he is.” —1 John 3:2 Every question about faith will be answered by His presence. Every doubt will disappear. Every struggle will seem small compared with the glory of being with Christ. Jesus is not merely the One who gets us to Heaven. Jesus is the treasure of Heaven. We Will See Our Loved Ones Again For those who have died in Christ, death is not the final goodbye. The Christian hope is resurrection. Paul comforted believers who were grieving their departed loved ones, telling them that Christians should not grieve “even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). He then described the great day when Christ returns and the dead in Christ are raised. “And so shall we ever be with the Lord.” —1 Thessalonians 4:17 What a promise. The Christian does not believe that death permanently destroys the relationships God has given us. We look forward to the resurrection and the gathering together of God’s people in the presence of Christ. Can we imagine embracing a loved one again—without sickness, without separation, without the fear that another goodbye is coming? The reunion will not be marked by hospitals, funerals, tears, or graves. It will be life. And it will be eternal. No More Death, Sorrow, or Pain Perhaps one of the most beautiful promises concerning eternity is found in Revelation: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” —Revelation 21:4 Think about everything that causes us grief in this present world. There will be no more death. No more funeral services. No more cancer wards. No more broken hearts. No more loneliness. No more betrayal. No more fear. No more sin. No more crying ourselves to sleep. God Himself will wipe away the tears. The hands that created the universe will personally comfort His children. The New Heaven and the New Earth Scripture points beyond simply going to Heaven. God’s ultimate plan is the renewal of creation. John saw: “a new heaven and a new earth.” —Revelation 21:1 The Christian hope is not ultimately an escape from God’s creation but the redemption and renewal of creation. Peter likewise speaks of looking for: “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” —2 Peter 3:13 Imagine a world where righteousness dwells completely. No corruption. No injustice. No violence. No exploitation. No pollution. No decay. No sin. Everything will finally exist as God intended it to exist. The curse will be gone, and creation itself will be brought into glorious freedom. The New Jerusalem And then Scripture gives us one of the most breathtaking visions in all of the Bible—the New Jerusalem. John saw the holy city descending from Heaven: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” —Revelation 21:2 The description is magnificent: gates of pearl, foundations adorned with precious stones, streets of pure gold, and the glory of God illuminating the city. But even these incredible descriptions point toward something greater. God Himself will dwell with His people. Revelation says: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.” —Revelation 21:3 The greatest beauty of the New Jerusalem will not be its gold. It will not be its gates. It will not be its walls. It will be the presence of God. And there will be no temple in the city, because: “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” —Revelation 21:22 The Lamb is Jesus Christ. The One who died for us will be at the center of eternity. We Will Finally Understand There are things we cannot understand now. There are prayers we do not understand. There are disappointments whose purpose remains hidden. There are losses that still hurt. There are seasons when we wonder why God allowed something to happen. But Heaven will bring clarity. Paul wrote: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.” —1 Corinthians 13:12 One day we will see clearly. We will understand that God never abandoned His children. We will understand the meaning of grace. We will understand the purpose of perseverance. And perhaps many things that caused us to weep on earth will appear completely different when viewed from eternity. Heaven Will Make This Journey Worth It Paul, who suffered imprisonment, persecution, beatings, rejection, hunger, danger, and hardship, wrote: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” —Romans 8:18 That is an extraordinary statement. Paul was not saying that suffering is insignificant. He was saying that future glory is infinitely greater. Whatever you are facing today, it will not last forever. The sickness will not last forever. The grief will not last forever. The struggle against sin will not last forever. The tears will not last forever. This present age is not the end of the story. There is a resurrection coming. There is a Kingdom coming. There is a New Jerusalem coming. There is a new heaven and a new earth coming. And, most importantly, Jesus is coming. Keep Going Sometimes the Christian life feels long. Sometimes the road is difficult. Sometimes faith feels like walking through darkness while holding onto a promise. But keep going. Keep trusting Christ. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep your eyes on eternity. The writer of Hebrews tells us to run the race with endurance, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2). The finish line is closer than it has ever been. And when we finally cross it, we will discover that every sacrifice made for Christ was worth it. Every prayer was worth it. Every act of obedience was worth it. Every tear was worth it. Every moment when we chose Christ over the world was worth it. Because on the other side of this life is not emptiness. There is glory. There is resurrection. There is reunion. There is righteousness. There is the New Jerusalem. There is the new heaven and the new earth. And there is Jesus. The Best Is Yet to Come Christian, do not let the temporary darkness of this world make you forget the eternal light that is coming. Jesus promised to prepare a place for His people. He promised to return. He promised resurrection. God promised to make all things new. And John heard the voice from the throne proclaim: “Behold, I make all things new.” —Revelation 21:5 One day, the journey will be over. One day, faith will become sight. One day, we will stand in the presence of the One who loved us enough to die for us. One day, we will see those who have gone before us in Christ. One day, there will be no more graves to visit because death will be gone. One day, there will be no more tears to shed because God Himself will wipe them away. One day, we will enter the fullness of the inheritance Christ purchased for us. And when that day comes, we will understand something with absolute certainty: Heaven was worth the wait. Until then, keep your eyes upon Jesus. The road may be difficult. The night may be long. But morning is coming. Christ is coming. And for those who belong to Him, the best is yet to come. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” —Revelation 22:20

In Colossians 1, Paul uses two closely related but distinct concepts to describe the unmatched status of Christ. To understand the distinction, we have to look at the flow of Paul's argument and the specific Greek words he uses. The Distinction in the Text Preeminence (πρωτεύων - *prōteuōn*) In verse 18, Paul writes that Christ might be preeminent (or "hold the first place") in everything. The Greek word prōteuōn is a present participle meaning "to be first in rank, influence, or position." Preeminence speaks to rank, dignity, and rightful position. It answers the question: Where does Christ stand in relation to all other things? The answer is that He stands at the absolute top. He holds the chief place. In the immediate context of verse 18, this preeminence is specifically tied to the new creation—He is the head of the body, the church, and the firstborn from the dead. Because He conquered the grave, He rightfully holds the highest rank in the renewed creation. Supremacy (πρωτότοκος - *prōtotokos*) While English translations sometimes use "preeminence" and "supremacy" interchangeably, the concept of supremacy in this passage is anchored in the word prōtotokos ("firstborn"), used in verses 15 and 18. Supremacy speaks to authority, power, and sovereign right. In the ancient Near East, the firstborn was not just the oldest child; he was the heir who held the highest authority over the household and received the double portion of the inheritance. When Paul says Christ is the "firstborn of all creation" (v. 15) and "firstborn from the dead" (v. 18), he is not saying Christ was created. He is declaring Christ's supreme authority over creation and over the new creation. Supremacy answers the question: Who has the power and the right to rule? Christ does, because all things were created through Him and for Him (v. 16). How They Work Together Think of it this way: Supremacy is the basis of His authority. He is the sovereign heir and creator. He has the absolute right to rule because He is the agent of creation and the victor over death. Preeminence is the result of that authority. Because He is supreme, it is only fitting that He holds the first place in rank, honor, and affection in all things. Paul builds this argument to counter the early heresies creeping into Colossae, which suggested you needed Jesus plus something else—angelic worship, secret knowledge, or ascetic practices (Colossians 2). Paul's response is that Christ's supremacy and preeminence mean He is entirely sufficient. The fullness of deity dwells in Him bodily (1:19). There is no higher rank to reach, no hidden knowledge to acquire, and no spiritual power to supplement. He holds the first place in everything. When you read this passage, you are looking at a deliberate, poetic structure where Paul establishes Christ's supremacy over the original creation (vv. 15-17) and then His supremacy over the new creation through redemption (vv. 18-20), culminating in the conclusion that He alone is preeminent in all things.