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LOOK

When the Lord Jesus returns or calls us home, we will behold His face, the very face of Love Eternal, and we will not look to the left or to the right. He is our Desire, our Portion forever, and we shall see Him as He is, for we will be like Him (1 Jn 3:2). Why on earth, while we’re on earth, would we want to look anywhere else, to anything else, or to anyone else? A church-going unbeliever once told me a long time ago, “There’s more to life than just Jesus.” Not according to the Bible. Jesus is life. There is no life apart from Him. Sadder yet, while I was in the “Bible Belt,” in the Deep South where supposedly Christianity was supreme, a Baptist pastor almost said the very same thing to me— almost. He was offended because I preached Christ every Sunday. I told him, “If you were in the desert for six days, and came to my well, dying of thirst; and I showed you the hewn stones surrounding the well; and the land upon which the well sat; and pointed out the depth of the well; or explained the soundness of the bucket and the length of the rope, long and strong; or even illustrated how cool, clear, clean, pure and refreshing the water was, and yet never gave you a drink, wouldn’t you think me the worst of villains? Christ’s sheep hunger and thirst for Him and it must be Him we give them.” He continued his argument that they must be taught doctrine and practical application as well. “Yes,” I agreed; “however, if I teach them to dig their own wells or if they only have knowledge of how the well works, yet they don’t drink its water, they will be just as dead.” Look, biblical doctrine and practical application that doesn’t lead us to Christ, nor cause us to look only to Christ, is as damnable as if I never preached Christ at all. The eyes of faith must look to Jesus Christ, and Christ alone, else it is a “breach of faith,” which has no life in it, only death (1 Chr 10:13).

Look to Jesus with eyes of faith,
Desire Christ alone;
And one day we’ll behold His face
When our Lord calls us home.

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

11/17 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 9-10; Hebrews 12; Amos 6; Luke 1:39-80