And, behold, I come quickly. And my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be. - Revelation 22:12
I can recall my youthful years and my Aunt Nerva's husband, Uncle Bruce, going away on the contract to the United States to pick fruits. It was common for Bahamians to be recruited to work on farms. They would stay as long as three years before returning, but monetary allowances were sent back to the labor department for the upkeep of their families.
You barely had any knowledge of when the migrant workers would return. You would go out one day and return home to meet the loved one there. Although there was joy to see them, there was more joy to see the things they brought with them. Uncle Bruce had no problem with his wife sharing what he brought with her sister, Florrie, my mother. Indeed, it is a blessing to receive all that is good.
I feel goose bumps when I think of what the reward that many of us will get, according to the fashion of the days of our lives.
There was a recent report on the level of poverty that exists in The Bahamas that speaks to families in dire need. It cited a lack of housing, food, employment, social mobility, spiritual stability, disdain for knowledge and empowerment. If there is to be a noticeable change in the lives of our people, then we must seriously think of choosing the better life that gives rich and lasting reward, not only here on planet Earth, but our heavenly abode.
The Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ shows his servants things that must shortly come to pass, as given by the angel to John who was banished to the Isle of Patmos for the preaching of the word. This same John bore record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw.
There are many who shy away from reading The Revelation of Saint John the Divine, but it clearly states that blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.
There were strong messages for the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Philadelphia and Laodicea in Revelation 2:18: "I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil. And thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars. And hast borne and hast patience and, for my name's sake, hast labored and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate. I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works, and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
In this last chapter and book of the Bible, John is told that these sayings are faithful and true, and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things that must be done. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
The days of our lives come in only two categories. We can either choose to be unjust and filthy in our dealings, or righteous and holy. The day will surely come when, no matter how high, rich, low or poor one may be, each man, woman, boy or girl will be given the paycheck they truly deserve according to their deeds and actions and acceptance or rejection of Jesus the Christ, and it could very well be quickly.
E-mail rubyanndarling@yahoo.com or write to P.O. Box 19725 SS Nassau, Bahamas with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God's blessings!

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