Through the visions given to John in Revelation, we are
given a glimpse of what thanksgiving is like in Heaven. I want to share four
marvelous reasons for thanking God which are found in these visions.
#1 We Thank God because He Created Everything
We thank God because He created so many beautiful and wonderful
things . . .
sunrises
babies
mountains
galaxies
butterflies
an ocean breeze
blue skies
flowers
you and me
If He hadn’t created us, well, we wouldn’t exist.
His creation reminds us of how incredibly powerful our
God is as we consider mountains, stars, and galaxies. His great wisdom and knowledge are displayed
in the laws of physics He established and the vast diversity creatures He
brought to life. We see His love for
beauty in butterflies, coral reefs, and sunsets.
Thank you, God, for creating everything!
#2 We Thank God
because He Reigns!
God could have created the universe and then left us on
our own. But thank God, He didn’t do
that. God reigns over creation. He is actively in charge. Every day He is
answering our prayer for His kingdom (His rule, His reign) to come on earth as
it is in Heaven.
God is watching over sparrows and keeps track of the
hairs on our heads.
God raises up and brings down leaders and nations
according to His wise plans.
The seasons and the weather are under His control.
He arranges both the details of our lives and the history
of the world according to His loving purposes for His people.
Even His enemies are only allowed to do those things
which He uses for good in the end.
Thank you God, for reigning in our world, in our lives,
in history, and in eternity!
#3 We Thank God
for His Amazing Love Seen in Redemption
God’s great power seen in His creation and His mighty
rule and authority would only bring us terror if it were not also for His
amazing love.
We thank God because of the greatest act of love in
history. He gave His only Son to die for
our sins.
To know that the invincible, almighty, Lord and Creator
of the universe would humble Himself and submit to suffering and death to save
us leads to eternal thanks and praise.
We also thank God because His act of redemption will save
people from every nation, tribe, and language.
In the first chapter of the Bible, God pointed to His plan to create a
world full of people who are as loving, trustworthy, pure, and good as
Jesus. Hallelujah, despite our fall and
all our failures, because of Christ’s sacrifice God’s plan will still be fulfilled.
This great act of love has inspired many thousands of
songs. We will continue to sing about the sacrifice Christ made in the eternal age of glory.
Thank You, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for
redeeming us with Your own blood.
#4 We Thank God
because of His Justice and Wrath
Does it surprise you that in John’s vision there is
thanksgiving for God’s wrath and justice?
God’s wrath is His righteous hatred of everything that is
evil. Shouldn’t we thank God that He
hates evil? How terrible it would be if evil didn't bother
God very much! What
hope would we have that the New Earth would be better than this one? We should thank God for His wrath.
Because of His wrath and justice, we know that one day
all evil will be utterly and completely destroyed. It will be burned to ashes
and smoke. And all of us who have been
redeemed and transformed will praise God for destroying evil. Then we will
live in a world without evil forever.
Not only that, but because of God’s justice and grace, He
will reward all who have served Him.
Everything you have ever done because of God’s love in you and your love
for Him will be richly rewarded. Mothers who sacrificed for their children,
caregivers who showed love to the needy, every gift given, every time we used
our gifts and abilities so share His truth and show His love, it will all be
richly rewarded. Not because God owes us
anything, but because He is good and just and delights in blessing us.
Thank You God!
Thank You for creating everything. Thank You for reigning over all. Thank You for redeeming us. Thank You for your trustworthy promise that
one day soon You will destroy all evil and graciously reward Your
servants. Thank You!
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .
