John 3:16. For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Well, it’s gathering time once again for praise and worship my fellow believers in Christ Jesus! Sunday is the day we put everything else on hold and join together to acknowledge our wise and wonderful God; He of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. And per our custom, we open the proceedings with song, with beautiful, throaty, harmonic praises (smile). Today’s song comes from the 2002 album titled ‘Jesus Will Fix It for You,’ performed by the Jamaican Canadian Gospel Artist, George Banton. But the name of the song we are going to sing now is called ‘Hold On (Better Must Come).
Now, there’s also a ska version, but today is a day for seriousness, so we need to get really soulful, let the music and the words come up right from our hearts, from the very core of our beings, with the soul that our forefathers felt when they were toiling in the boiling sun, but praising and worshipping a God who seemed to have forgotten them in their abject misery. But their faith was strong, they acknowledged Him faithful who had promised, and so they stood strong and held on, just like we’re doing today, because we know that better must come. The Lord promised it, and He doesn’t lie.
So, let’s raise those sweet, soulful, harmonious voices in sacrificial praise to high heaven, letting our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ know that we staunchly believe in Him, and totally trust Him to keep all the promises He’s made to us. Altogether now: ‘You know in each life, a little rain must fall, and sometimes the darkest night is just before dawn. I’m here to tell you, hold on, hold on, better must come one day. Oh let me tell you children, hold on, hold on, better must come one day.
I woke up this morning, with sunshine on my mind, but as I looked through my window, there were clouds all over the land. Then I thanked the Lord for giving me another day. And when I opened my eyes, there was sunshine everywhere, telling me to hold on, hold on, better must come someday. The clouds were all rolled away, yes they did, And I’m here to tell you, Oh I just can’t keep it to myself now, I’ve gotta tell somebody else, to hold on, hold on, better must come one day. Hold on till the end, and don’t give up now, I know your change is going to come, like the clouds give way to the sun.
Whenever you’re down and out, and you have no one around, remember this song, telling you to be strong. Let me tell you children, hold on, hold on, better must come one day. The sun will shine, yes it will! So, go tell your friend, go tell your mama, tell your sister about it, tell your brother, tell your daddy, to hold on, hold on, better must come one day.
And sometimes when you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and happiness is nowhere in sight… I’m here to tell you that trouble don’t last always, behind each dark cloud there’s a silver lining. Yeh, let me tell you children, hold on, hold on, better must come one day, better will come, I know, Oh I know it will,
Hey, hey, you’d better hold on, hold on, for better must come one day. I’d like to share this with every man, every woman, with every boy and every girl. Let me tell you, you’d better hold on. I don’t know about you nuh, but sometimes I get a little weak, yes, I’ve been there, and know that the sun will shine again, so I’m holding on, and you’d better hold on too, hold on, for better must come one day, Yes hold on, hold on, for better must come one day…better must come one day…’
And that’s the God awesome truth my brethren: better will come one day! As we said earlier on, Jesus promised it, and He doesn’t lie. And right off the bat, here is a scripture that says it all. From way back in time, the prophet Balaam said unto Balak, king of Moab: ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’ (Num. 23:19)
Yes friends, whatever our God promises He will make come true. But just to refresh our memories and offer some encouragement and reassurance, let’s look at a few of the many promises of good tidings in God’s word. Hear this one from Isaiah, re the final restoration of Israel. ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ (Is. 41:10)
And if that doesn’t move you, then try this one from Jeremiah. ‘For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) Now we all know that, and if you don’t believe it, then you’re in the wrong club. (smile)
Or perhaps you prefer how Bruh Paul puts it to the Roman church. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28) Oh friends, if we sincerely LOVE God and are called to do His will, then we ought to know and believe that eventually all things will work out for our good, or as George Banton puts it, ‘better must come one day.’ Otherwise we’re just wasting our time and God’s.
And here’s another scripture that we all know. This one from the wisest man ever, Cousin Sol. He writes In Proverbs: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel (body), and marrow (strength) to thy bones.’ (Prov. 3:5-8)
And we could continue all day (smile) because there are many more promises of the good times to come at the end if we endure as faithful believers, so that when Christ returns, He finds us faithful, ready and waiting; eagerly expecting His coming. That’s because we truly believed His most important words down here on earth. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)
And that’s exactly why we need to hold on in faith my fellow saints! Please remember that the whole purpose of this earthly life is to end up in heaven with Jesus. Yes, let’s hold on, because better… no the BEST, will eventually come in the form of everlasting life with Jesus! Much LOVE!
…only true faith in Jesus…will cause us to see heaven with Him…
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