I can only imagine...

1 John 2:17-24 (New American Standard Bible)

17(A)The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who (B)does the will of God lives forever.
18Children, (C)it is the last hour; and just as you heard that (D)antichrist is coming, (E)even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
19(F)They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, (G)so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
20But you have an (H)anointing from (I)the Holy One, and (J)you all know.
21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but (K)because you do know it, and because no lie is (L)of the truth.
22Who is the liar but (M)the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is (N)the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23(O)Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard (P)from the beginning If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also (Q)will abide in the Son and in the Father.

I chose to share this passage today because it's one we've recently studied with our Wednesday night Bible study group. The discussion at one point was if there was an antichrist among US would WE recognize him? (Or her) Do WE look like the world? Have we become that "peculiar people" that GOD'S WORD says we should be? Do we look any different when we're not with our "church friends?" I'm afraid to say that on many occasions I've been a different person. It's my heart's desire to stand out - to be the LIGHT in our dark world! I've stood out, but not always in a godly way. I PRAISE GOD that HIS mercies are NEW EVERY MORNING! Amen?

I recently shared some things with my cousin that we witnessed during our son's last days here on earth. As we were able to listen in on his CONVERSATIONS with GOD, I became VERY AWARE of how being in GOD'S presence will reveal a STARK CONTRAST of HIS HOLINESS and that of sin! Brent was saying things like, "LORD, Your Word doesn't even tell how BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE!" If we are living in the "beauty" of a sin stained-world, just imagine how BEAUTIFUL it would be WITHOUT sin! I'm reminded of the the lyrics to the song "I Can Only Imagine."

I Can Only Imagine,

by Mercy Me

"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!I can only imagine."

Keep looking towards HEAVEN... where our "treasures" cannot be stolen and moth and rust cannot destroy! (Matthew 16:20)