back in Jeremiah chapter 29. Jeremiah chapter 29. I want to
begin the message, which might at first seem like a peculiar
way to do it, but I think you'll understand after we have gone
a little ways. I want to begin by speaking especially,
especially these words to this little flock, the words I'm about
to say. And when I think of that expression,
our Lord's words for your not little flock, I was reminded of this, to tell you and myself, please
don't be discouraged by that fact that we're a little flock.
I'm very much aware of it. I'm especially painfully aware
of those who have left us for wrong reasons. That's just so. And you know when I speak of
some that aren't here, of course, you don't need me to say. I'm
not talking about Mike, Sandy, those who would be here if they
could. But let me say this. I think in order for those who
left for other reasons, I'm convinced, I know, that it would involve
me compromising God's Word to agree with them in order to stay. And even after that, I don't
know if they would have. So little flock, don't be discouraged. If in order to keep someone,
it involves compromising God's Word, that's a price of so-called
unity I'm not going to pay. Another thing, please don't ever,
please don't ever be embarrassed by the fact that this is a little
flock. I know smaller ones. This is not unusual. This is
usually the rule, isn't it, John? For grace churches all across
this land, all over this world. So don't ever be embarrassed
by it. I'm thankful. And I'm very serious here. I'm
thankful to be a part of this little flock. Terry, I consider
it an honor. I still don't know for sure why
y'all asked me, but it's an honor to be a part of it. It's an honor
to be your pastor. I'd rather be pastor of a few
of God's true sheep, Billy, than a big congregation of goats. God forbid. One time, my pastor,
Brother Don, your friend, mine too, Brother Don Fortner, gave
me some needful insight along this line, and he didn't even
realize he was doing it. But I was talking to him about
a trip, one of his many, many trips, to preach the gospel that
he was either just coming back from or getting ready to go to.
various places on a yearly basis until he just couldn't go anymore.
And one of his, the next, the last place he was, was right
here. Right here. But I asked him about
that congregation, and they didn't have a pastor. And I know he'd
been going down there for quite a while. And I asked him about
them, and I was surprised to find out it was just a handful.
I think they met in someone's living room. Just a few people. Because I falsely thought that
Don was always preaching to lots of folks. But he wasn't. I think it was seldom that he
preached to what we would call a great crowd. But Don wasn't
ashamed to go. Of course not. No man called
of God is ashamed to preach the gospel, whether it's the one
or 1,000. As I said, he often came here,
didn't he? So again, I say, don't you be ashamed for them to come,
because they're honored to come to preach the gospel to you.
Remember, remember, where two or three are gathered together,
our Lord said, there am I. I was listening to Brother Henry
preached one time, Brother Mahan, and he said, it doesn't much
matter who else is there if Christ is there. Two or three gathered
together in my name. And this is another thing I'm
aware of, little flock. I'm aware, to a pretty good degree,
that there's some hurting, suffering sheep here going through some
heavy trials. carrying some heavy burdens,
enduring some heartache, it seems, when I think about it, in a sense,
strange that such a little flock should be carrying such a heavy
load. But that's not really so, is it? It's not really strange. Our Lord said, you're not of
the world even as I am not of the world. These things, before
he went to the cross, before he went to the garden, he told
his disciples that night, these things have I spoken unto you
that you should not be offended. The trials, the tribulation,
the persecution that's coming your way. Don't be stumbled by
it. That's why I'm telling you ahead
of time these things. In the world you'll have tribulation,
there's no question about that, but be of good cheer. I've overcome
the world. Remember what Peter wrote? And
man, he wrote to people who were suffering, being murdered, slaughtered. Believers. Peter wrote, Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. As this is
something new, unheard of for God's people, none. But rejoice
inasmuch as ye are partakers of God's sufferings, that when
his glory shall be revealed, Ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy. If ye are reproached for the
name of Christ, happy are ye. For the Spirit of glory and of
God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified." And one more precious promise,
one of my favorites. I know I've told you that more
than once. John was asked by the elder,
who are these, John, that stand before the throne? Who are these
multitudes that none can number, clothed in white robes and palms
in their hands? John, who are they? Where did
they come from? And John said, I don't know. You tell me. And
the elder answered John and said, these are they which came out. These are they which came out.
of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb. They came out. They all came
out. And so will you. Not one of them was overcome
by their tribulation and you won't be the first. It ain't
going to happen. It ain't going to happen. God
will prove the sufficiency of his grace like he's had up to
this very moment. You say, well, Larry, sometimes
I feel like that I might be the first, that I won't come out. Well, don't listen to your own
thoughts, especially when you're cast down and depressed. Hear
the Word of God. And that's exactly what God tells
Jeremiah to tell these who were captives in Babylon. who had
been carried away, captive. God forewarned them it would
happen because of their disobedience. They didn't listen, so Nebuchadnezzar
took captives, so many, we read it a minute ago, into Babylon,
that heathen nation. That's why Jeremiah wrote this
letter. Can you imagine what they must
have been thinking, these people? Can you imagine the confusion
and doubts? Everything that was going through
their mind. And remember that Jeremiah, Brother Don said, I
checked his comments on this book, that he felt like Jeremiah
was one of the most persecuted prophets that ever lived. I mean, not just among the prophets,
but has ever lived. He faithfully exposed the sins
of Israel. God told them to. He was called
of God, and he came with God's message. He called them to repentance. He warned them of judgment over
and over, asserting that the wrath of God was coming, and
they deserved it. Now, needless to say, Jeremiah
wasn't a popular preacher. He wasn't very popular. He was
hated. persecuted, despised by the very
people that he loved and was trying to help. But he remained
faithful to his God and to those he preached to. He told them
the truth, what thus saith the Lord. Sometimes when I read the
prophets, I used to. You might be tempted to think,
Jeremiah, what we just read, Is this a history or is it a
prophecy? Is this a history of something
that's already happened and it's over and done with? Or is it
a prophecy of what's to come? It's both. It's both, isn't it? You know that. The things we
read up, this entire book actually, literally happened. It's not
made up. It's not a fable. It's not a
fairy tale. It's a matter of historical fact. But I know that
there are much more than that, because Jesus Christ said so.
Listen to what he said to the leaders. Search the scriptures,
for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they
which testify of me. And remember, the Old Testament
was all they had at that time. That's what he was referring
to. And then after he rose from the dead, to his faithful followers,
the eleven on the Mount of Olivet, he said unto them, These are
the words which I spake unto you while I was with you, that
all things must be fulfilled, I like that, which were written
in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning
me. And then on down, in Luke 24,
he said, Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the Scriptures. What did he do that they should
understand the Scriptures? He gave them the key to unlock
God's Word. He told them, the Word of God
is about God the Word, me. There's the key. There's the
key. It's all about me. Therefore,
Jeremiah's message is not simply one of gloom and doom, like some
commentators seem to think. It's a message of mercy and grace
because it's about Jesus Christ. Christ is here. Christ is here.
And wherever Christ is, there's mercy, grace, hope, salvation
for his people, just as he promised these who typified his people. Even as Jeremiah denounced Israel's
wickedness and prophesied of the nation's destruction, he
declared to them the immutable faithfulness of God. to his people
and the salvation of God's left. It's all through the book. Now
we'll just read a couple, but just let me mention. Throughout
this book we see our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the
fountain of living water in chapter 2. He's the great physician in
chapter 8. He used those terms when he was
on earth. He's the righteous branch and the Lord our righteousness. I do want to read that. in chapter
23. Feel free to look at it with
me. I think you should. Chapter 23
verses 5 and 6. Behold, the days come, saith
the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch. Now
he wasn't talking about Solomon. Oh no. Unto David, verse 5 of
chapter 23, a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his
days Judah shall be saved and Israel, God's true Israel, shall
dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called
the Lord our righteousness." Now anybody that can see that
must be talking about the Lord Jesus Christ just got to be blind.
They're just in darkness. And in this majestic name, the
Lord our Righteousness, Jehovah Zakinu, the Godhead of our Savior
is plainly declared. And as a descendant of David,
oh, there he is in his humanity. Jeremiah chapter 31, as the great
shepherd of his sheep, verse 10, hear the word of the Lord,
O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say,
He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a
shepherd doth his flock." And 600 years after that, when Jesus
Christ appeared on the scene, he said, I'm the good shepherd.
They're talking about me. I'm the good shepherd, and know
my sheep, and am known of mine. And we have this blessed promise.
of what God will do by our Lord Jesus Christ, that in the decimation
of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things
in Christ, Ephesians 1 and 10, both which are in heaven and
which are on earth, even in Him. Chapter 31, verse 11, For the
Lord had redeemed Jacob, It's hard just not to stop right
there. Just a pitch tent right there. For the Lord hath redeemed
Jacob, that worm Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that
was stronger than he. In chapter 30, he's referred
to as David the King. Chapter 50, our Redeemer. And here in chapter 29, God commands
Jeremiah to write a letter and send it to those who were carried
away captive by Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. In verses 5 through
7, we read them. Jeremiah tells them how God commands
them to live while they're captive, while they're in Babylon, that
heathen nation. It's for their own good, for
their own good. It sounds much like the words
of our Lord in his prayer in John 17 on behalf of you and
I. I pray not that thou shouldest
take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from
the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world. Thank God for that. And then
in verses 8 and 9 of this chapter, he tells them what not to do
while they're in Babylon, while they're in this world. This religious
Babylon confusion is what it means. He tells them what not
to do. what we're ever to be on our
guard against. Don't listen to the words of
the false prophets, is what he says. While you're in Babylon,
do it for good reason. Look at verse 9 again. Don't
listen to them, don't believe them, don't trust them. They're
liars. You say, that's pretty tough. Well, that's what God
calls them. Verse 9, for they prophesy falsely unto you in
my name. I've not sent them. I've not
sent them. They're telling you I sent them.
I didn't send them. saith the Lord." So don't listen
to them. Brothers and sisters in Christ,
let me ask you something. And you know the answer. There is more deceit, is there
not? There's more deceit, more lies, more cheating that goes
on in religion, in the name of religion, than anything else
in this world. It's big business. And it's all
carried out in God's name. These hucksters, you know it.
They sell everything from so-called miracle spring water, the crosses,
the gimmicks, you name it. Anything to make a buck and they
do it by dishonoring the name of our God and Savior. God's
got a miracle just for you. You send me some money and I'll
see that you get it. And that's exactly what God says
concerning these false prophets in verse 9. They're liars. They don't speak for me. They
don't speak for me because I didn't send them. Then after warning
them of what or who not to listen to, God tells them in verse 10
who they should listen to. Let's read it again. For thus
saith the Lord. Now, you've listened to them
fellas. But now listen to me, for thus saith the Lord, that
after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you
and I'll perform. I'll do exactly what I've promised."
And he did. I'll perform my good word to
you, towards you, in causing you to return to this place. Oh, I like that. I need that,
don't you? I need that reminder. I hope you know that I'm no different
than you. Stop listening to lies, Larry,
and start listening to your God. Start listening. Don't lean up
on your own arm of flesh, but trust in your Lord. He cannot
lie. He cannot lie. Is that not what
our Lord told His disciples, those troubled, heartbroken disciples
that same night? Don't let your heart be troubled."
And it was because he said, I'm leaving you fellas. I'm going
away and you can't come with me. Not yet. Can you imagine? I can only imagine how broken
hearted they were, how confused. They kept looking for him to
set up an earthly kingdom. That's what they looked for.
He told them different. Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many mansions. If it were not so, If that wasn't
the truth, I wouldn't be telling you this. I go to prepare a place
for you. On down in verse 6 he says, I'm
the way, the truth, the light, I'm the truth. No man comes to
the Father but by me. In chapter 1 of that Gospel of
John, This familiar verse, "...and the Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the Only Begotten
of the Father." And what was the essence of that glory? He
was full of grace and truth, and truth. Children of God, hear
your great God and Savior again. He never has lied to you. He's
the very embodiment of truth. I remember reading a sermon by
Mr. Spurgeon along this line, the
word being made flesh, and he said if anybody would have asked
the disciples what their confession of faith was, what their doctrine
was, they would point to Jesus Christ and say, it's Him. Right
there, it's Him. We believe Him. He's the embodiment
of truth. Therefore, as Jeremiah told them,
you don't need some self-professing prophet that God didn't call
to tell you what God thinks. God's going to tell you Himself
what He thinks. You ask Him, He's about to tell
you. And this is what He says. Here's our text in verse 11.
Look at it again. The title of this message is,
What Can a Believer Expect? What can a true child of God
expect? And here's God's answer. For
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts
of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Oh, that's the first thing. Oh,
we can't fail to, what's the expression, fail to see the forest
for the trees? Oh, no. At the very outset, look
at this blessing. I know the thoughts that I think
toward you. Now remember, remember, the thought
of God is all that's needed for the accomplishment of that thought,
whatever he intends, whatever he's purposed. Really, and I've
kind of wrestled with this trying to find how do you put that into
words, but really God's thought itself is the accomplishment
of his purpose. I know that the actual fulfillment
of all God's purposes have yet to happen, but the very fact
that God has started, that God has purposed it, is all that's
needed, all that's necessary to assure us that it will come
to pass. If not, God wouldn't have thought
it. That's all that's needed. Listen to this, Psalm 33, verse
6. By the word of the Lord were
the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of
His mouth. Verse 10, the Lord bringeth the
counsel of the heathen to naught. He maketh the devices of the
people of none effect. The counsel, verse 11, of the
Lord standeth forever. Listen, the thoughts of his heart
to all generations. The thoughts of his heart. Blessed
is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom he hath
chosen for his inheritance. Isaiah chapter 14, verse 24. The Lord of Hosts hath sworn.
Man, that's a strong statement. That's a strong statement. That
should get our attention. The Lord of Hosts hath sworn,
saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass. You
ought to mark that. You ought to make a note of that.
Isaiah 15, 24. Surely, as I have thought, so
shall it come to pass. As I have purposed, so shall
it stand. Isn't that amazing? Ah, sure. And from those thoughts of God
sprang the realization of those things thought for. That's enough. That's enough. Such as this,
such as this, in Romans chapter 8 and 28, we know about heart.
And we know, we know, Paul writes, believers, we know that all things
work together for God to them that love God, to them who are
called according to His purpose. But how do we know? How do you
know that? Now, we've all questioned going
through something, but I don't understand this. Now, I read
that verse and I think, well, how is this good? How is this
doing me any good? I just don't understand. How
do we know that? We weren't in the council hall
of eternity taking part in that covenant of God's amazing grace.
No, but we just read that we have been called according to
God's purpose. And that, therefore, must require
this, all things working together toward that end. That's how we
know. How do we know? Because God's doing the work.
God's doing the work. Oh, it takes us by surprise?
Sure it does. It may cause us to pace. It may
cause us to cry. It may cause us to wonder. We're
just flesh. Sometimes I have to tell my dear
wife, honey, don't be so hard on yourself. Don't be so hard
on yourself, your flesh, your flesh, your grass. And that also
includes this, again in Romans 8, verse 29. For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate. Foreknow means for love, the
love everlasting. He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his son. Wow. that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called. And whom he called, them he also
justified. And whom he justified, them he
also glorified. All that springs from the very
thought of God. Isn't that something? Can you
imagine God, a God, little g, a so-called God that would predestinate
someone's salvation, someone he's loved everlastingly, and
not call them to himself in time? People say that. Preachers preach
that. God might love you today, love
you from eternity, but hate you tomorrow. My soul, save me from
such a God as that. justified and then lost forever? What sort of God would predestinate
that which he knows would not come to pass? How stupid is that? Why bother to call anybody at
all? If that's the case, that God
just sounds too small, doesn't he? I need a bigger God than
that. Why bother to call at all? Oh,
deny one link in that glorious chain of grace, and it's like
opening a can of worms. You ever done that? You ever
seen a can of worms? Man, they're not very attractive, nasty, stinky. It's just a mess. And that's
what that message would be. Thank God we've learned better.
Those who have been taught of God. And for that revelation,
it brings a sinner to bow down before Him, in wonder and adoration, crying
out, Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed
to him again? For of him, O God, how great
thou art! For of him, and through him,
and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Now here's the thing, that great
and glorious God thinks of you. He thinks of you, Billy Cobb.
How about that? As a matter of fact, you've always
been in His mind. You've always been on His mind
and in His heart. I don't mean from the day you
believed. I mean before that. I don't mean when He created
the world. I mean before time began. God loved you. That's what our
text says, doesn't it? My thoughts are toward you. Isn't that something? What a
contrast in such few words. The Lord, all capital letters. Jehovah and you, no capital letters. There shouldn't be. God's chosen
the foolish things of the world to confound the things that are
wise. In this same book, this prophecy
of Jeremiah, chapter 9, thus saith the Lord, let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his
might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that
glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth
me, for I am the Lord. Man, isn't that something? And brothers and sisters, not
only Will we never reach the limit of doing that very thing,
glorying in our Lord, because He deserves us? We'll not only
reach the end of that here, but even in heaven, we'll never come
to the end of that. We won't. We'll never come to
the end of that. When the Lamb of God ceases to
be worthy, then we'll cease singing, worthy is the Lamb. But it's
not going to happen. Robin and I have been having
our devotionals in the evening or night, mostly from the Psalms
lately. The other night we were reading
and talking about another psalm. I told her, I said, man, you
can't read the Psalms of David without being struck with his
utter humility before God, his obvious total dependency on God,
and his gratitude toward God. It just reeks through the Psalms,
doesn't it? And I said, you know, that's just the opposite, isn't
it? I said, that's just the opposite
of what goes on today. Just the opposite. I mean, you
see these fellas described here, again in verse 9, like peacocks
on TV, just strutting around. Look at me. Look at me. God's done something for me that
He's not done for you. God showed me something that
He not showed you. Ain't I something? Ain't I something?
They don't know God from a goose. Any person, any man, any woman
that's ever been in the presence of God, has ever had an inkling
of who God is and who they are, that's the very last thing they
would do. Is it not so? Is it not so? Was that not the case with you?
You don't stand as a bragger before God Almighty. You bow.
You bow in the dust as a beggar. 7 or 2 Samuel, when Nathan came
to David with the promise that he should have a son. And that
son, after David's death, shall sit upon the throne of God, the
throne in Israel forever again. He was talking about more than
Solomon. I think the angel used those very words, some of them,
in the message to Mary concerning his birth. But David's response
was, when God told him what, or rather David, we'll get it
right, when Nathan told David what God had purposed to do for
him and through him and with him, what David did, you remember? Did he prance around and say,
ain't I something? Everybody look at me. That king
went and sat down before the king of kings and he said, oh
Lord, who am I? O Lord God, who am I, and what
is my house that Thou hast brought me hither to? Who am I that You
should do such glorious things to? This great God that's in
the heaven doing whatsoever He is pleased, this Lord who has
His way in the world, when? This glorious Being who had no
beginning and will never have an end, who never changes, he
doesn't need to. He thinks of you. Can you get a grip on that? It
should be better to ask, has that got a grip on you? I was
watching some golf the other day and the announcer was talking
about this fella that they had the camera on, this pro golfer
was getting ready to putt. And I'd never heard this one
before, John. I hadn't seen this. This announcer said, well, Joe,
there he's using the prayer grip. I said, say what? The prayer
grip? Yep, it's just like you imagined. There's the putter,
and here's his grip on it. As I said, I've never seen that.
But golfers will try anything to improve their game. But here's
the problem. It didn't work. He still missed the butt. And
this announcer apparently was familiar with this man. He said,
yeah, he's been trying that for a while, and it's just not working.
He needs to go back to his old grip. Brothers and sisters in
Christ, when the promise of God grips our heart, when God drops
a sweet promise of his into our heart, it grips it. It grips
it, doesn't it? It's effectual. It grips our
heart. God tells us what his thoughts
are. And I may have to come back to this. I don't want to wear
you out. But look again at verse 11. Oh, thinking about the very
wonder that God would even think of us at all. But look what he
thinks. Thoughts of peace and not of evil. What about that? Thoughts of peace. I know the
thoughts that I think toward you, he said in Isaiah. Thoughts of peace and not of
evil. Paul, I'm sorry, David, in another
psalm, 139, How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, just
like here, plural. O God, how great is the sum of
them! If I should count them, they
are more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with
thee. Thoughts of peace and not of
evil. Like this one. Again from this
same prophecy. Chapter 31. The Lord hath appeared
of old unto me, saying, Gay, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love. Therefore, with loving kindness
have I drawn thee. Bobby, are you thinking of that
song I would often ask you to sing when you read that verse?
Love with an everlasting love. Led by grace that love to know.
Spirit breathing from above, God has taught me it is so. Oh,
this full and perfect peace. Oh, this transport all divine.
In a world which cannot cease, I am His and He is mine. In a world that cannot cease
or love rather, I am His and He is mine. Thoughts of peace
and not of evil. I have jotted down so many, but
I'm Do this on your own time. Look at some of those promises,
which are all thoughts of peace, but not one solitary one of evil. God's not out to get us. God's
not waiting for us to slip so He can pounce on us. Oh no, He'll
chastise His people. Oh yes, of course, because He
loves us. He loves us. And here's the last
thought given in our text, and we'll wrap this up. To give you
an expected end. Do you see those last few words?
To give you an expected end. To give you. Not to reward you,
because this is not something you've earned. This is not wages
being paid. This is a gracious, glorious,
free grace promise. And grace can't be bargained
for, and it can't be bought, and it can't be earned. Just
the other evening, I'll give you an example. Just the other
evening, I looked at my phone, and like you, getting all these
emails. I don't want them. I didn't ask
for them. Phone calls too, and sometimes my phone will block
them, sometimes it won't. But the emails, that's another
thing. Just get them from everything and everybody. And this one was
supposedly, supposedly, I don't think it probably was, Home Depot.
And it caught my attention because I do business with him. And it
said, the time for your exclusive offer is running out. Exclusive,
just to me. And I didn't believe that. It
made me feel kind of special. It's exclusive. Larry Criss.
They know me. And then I noticed in small print. This offer had been already made
to four million other people. I didn't feel so special anymore. And then I read some more small
print, and they wanted me to pay a fee for the offer. And
it was just an offer. Didn't say they were going to
give me anything. You pay us and we'll offer you
something. God says he'll give it. Not offering it to you, I'm giving
it to you. And if He gives it to me, it's mine. It's mine. It's mine. Because the promises
of God are certain. Children of God, how does this
sound? We have a right to expect them. We have a right to expect
them. If God promised it to us, would
we not dishonor Him if we didn't expect it? If we didn't believe
it, is it not honoring to Him, as Abraham did, give glory to
God, believing that what he promised he was able to do? God says,
I'll give you an expected end. I don't know everything that
means, but I know this, whatever it means, it's got to be good.
It's got to be good. It has to include this. All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh unto
me I'll no wise cast out. This is the Father's will which
is sent me, that all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,
but raise it up again at the last day." Oh, that's unexpected. It would also have to include
this in John as well, when our Lord said, I'm the resurrection
and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Do you believe that? That's what
he asked, Mark. Do you believe that, Mark? humbly, thankfully, gratefully,
and in my heart, bowing down, I should have, but I do believe
that. I believe that. I believe exactly
what he said. I expect that. That's an expected
end. And like this, what about this
one? Larry, one of the first sweet promises I read After God
converted me, after God saved me, called me out of darkness.
Oh, and it blessed my heart. I was a popular fella for all
the wrong reasons, and all my old friends deserted me. That
was the best thing to happen. But I was feeling it now. Having
had Elijah's syndrome, Lord, I'm the only one left. And I
read one night, Larry, Larry, listen. I will never leave you. And I'll never forsake you. I expect that. I expect, in short,
that God will do everything He's promised to do for me, for Christ's
sake. I was watching the Waltons the
other evening. And Robin watched that a good
bit. Dad and Andy Griffith. But she wasn't home when I was
watching it. It's one of the few programs,
the rare programs, that you can watch and not hear someone curse
God. But in this episode, John Boy
was working for a lady, doing some chores, and she brought
him a glass of lemonade one evening. She handed it to him, and she
said, young man, you impress me as someone who will honor
his promise. And John Boy said, well, ma'am,
I never made you any promise." She couldn't claim a promise
that hadn't been made to her. Oh, child of God, here's a promise
to you. Every child of God can and should,
for their own comfort and peace, and for the honor of their Heavenly
Father, one more promise. Bear with me. I'm expecting one
promise of God To me, I'm looking forward to it more than any other. More than all the rest. And they're
more than the hairs on my head. I'm looking forward to that day
I'll be free from sin. That's unimaginable to me now.
Free from pain and weeping and sorrow of any kind. I'm looking
forward to that. But here's the promise. This
is the expected end I'm looking for. with anticipation more than
any other. Mary Chris, you shall see my
face. Oh, that will be glory for me. May he give us grace to come
to the throne of grace and to find grace to help in time of
need. Oh, my troubled, tempest-tossed
brother or sister, fall down upon the promise of God, he can
still the raging sea. Here's a poem I found when I
was thinking along these lines, or an old hymn that wasn't the
one I was looking for, but it's pretty good. Though the way be
lonely and dark the shadows fall, I know where'er he leadeth, my
father planned it all. He guides my halting footsteps
along the weary way, for well he knows the pathway will lead
to endless day. A day of light and gladness on
which no shade will fall, this at last awaits me, because my
father planned it all. Therefore, I'll seem through
shade and sunshine and trust whatever befall. His way is best,
he leads to rest. My father planned it all." Before
we dismissed and go our different ways, read the promise with me
one more time. Take it with you. For I know
the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts
of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. God bless you.