24 Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now, and forever. Amen.
Jude 24-25
It is copied in gyms all over the country. It started back in the 80’s in an old beat-up stadium in downtown Chicago. Basketball fans all over can still hear these words in their heads, “And now the starting line up for your Chicago Bulls.” These words echoed as Pippen, Grant, Cartwright, Armstrong, and Michael Jordan were announced. High schools and colleges today still imitate these now-famous words.
Our theme verses for camp this year are basically a prayer and some closing thoughts, but I wonder how they would sound blaring from the loud speakers of heaven down to earth when the Lord returns and we enter heaven. Who might get the job of announcing it to all? It might sound something like this …
And now coming down from His glorious throne to take back His own, the One who picks you up when you are down, who puts a smile in place of that frown, the One who won’t let you fall and is Savior of All. He is King of Kings. He is Lord of Lords. He is Alpha and Omega. He IS the MAN. He became man to save all men. You know Him in prayer. We know Him in person. He is not One, or Two, but the Trinity Himself. Let’s rise to our feet to give Him all glory, majesty, power, and authority now, tomorrow, and forever more … you know who I’m talking about … give it up for OUR KING … Jesus Christ!
What a wonderful announcement that would be. Jesus Christ desires to be the King of your kingdom, the Savior of your situation, and the Lord of your life. Will you let Him? So who is your Lord, your Jesus today? What is keeping you back from giving the real King complete control of your life? He desires not only to be a part of your life, but to be your life. Paul knew this quite well. He felt that if he lived he could keep on sharing about Christ, but if he died, he would join Him in glory! What a win-win situation. Are you ready to hear your name called by the PA announcer in heaven? And now for your new heavenly teammate, please give it up for … Will your name be said?
1. What do you enjoy about listening to the starting line ups before a ball game? How does your local PA announcer do it?
2. Who’s Number One in your life – Jesus or you? What difference does that make?
3. Today, how can you know for sure that your name will be spoken all over heaven when it is your time to go?
Jude 20-21
Philippians 1:21-22
Romans 8:10