After The Blessing
By Jeremy M. Caverley
It’s that time of year when many folks are searching through sale ads, looking for the next big thing or the “savings of a lifetime.” For lots of people, discovering a Black Friday or pre-Christmas bargain is considered a blessing.
But I have to ask you: What happens when the thrill of discovery is over or the sale has expired? What happens when the gift wrapping is torn open, the presents are revealed, and the smiles are short lived?
Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash
What happens to us after we receive a blessing from God?
Let’s look into the Word of God for the answer.
The word “after” is mentioned 772 times in the Bible. Not all of those mentions refer to a blessing coming first.
When God gives us a blessing do we truly know when that blessing started to take fruit? What are we to do after the blessing?
Here are five verses from the many references to “after” found in the Old and New Testament.
1. “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” – Genesis 3:24
The blessing here was that God placed cherubim and a sword to protect the tree of life. After the blessing, we see the continuation of humanity’s fall. Adam and Eve were taken out of the garden.
2. “After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters.” – Genesis 5:30
Long after we learn of man’s fall into sin for the first time, we see Noah’s dad, Lamech, experience a delay before having more offspring… and a very full life of almost 600 years.
3. “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.” — Hosea 6:2
In Hosea, a prophecy about Jesus tells us what He would do on the cross after overcoming death, and the grave on the third day! We see a revival and restoration through Jesus’ sacrifice; how Jesus on-time God!
4. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.’ — Joel 2:28
Here we see another after, a “later moment” where God moves on the people of the world. God is moving into the future toward the End Time and the Holy Spirit is reaching out to prepare the final harvest.
5. “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” - Hebrews 6:15
Again, as the result of a delay and the virtue of patience, we see fruit in Abraham’s life and the promise of many decedents fulfilled.
In Isaiah, God ties all blessings together from the beginning of time to the end of time. Meaning, that no matter what happens, God has something in store for you that will come into fruit no matter how many roads it takes to get there. God is an on-time God who started the blessings in your life before you were even born. We should thank Him! His name is Jesus Christ!
“The Lord Almighty has sworn an oath: ‘What I have planned will happen. What I have determined to do will be done. I will destroy the Assyrians in my land of Israel and trample them on my mountains. I will free my people from the Assyrian yoke and from the burdens they have had to bear. This is my plan for the world, and my arm is stretched out to punish the nations.’ The Lord Almighty is determined to do this; he has stretched out his arm to punish, and no one can stop him.” - Isaiah 14:24-27
God’s Equation
With God nothing is impossible. In Isaiah above: “What I have planned will happen. What I have determined to do will be done.” This is God’s equation for our lives. God plans out His ways including our flaws and failures, and His plans bless our lives. The blessings started before we were even born. God created the Heavens and the Earth. He gave His son Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins.
Remember, that blessings carry on as God has planned.
What you do before, during and after a blessing is very important to you and the lives of the many people you touch with your life.
So, this thankful season, after being blessed, what happens next is all part of God’s plan. That purchase you make or that call you dial or maybe that meeting you have, could change someone’s life and bring them to an encounter with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God puts all of YOU into His equation mix: your successes, strengths, flaws and failures. After the blessing, be a blessing to others. Blessings carry into the rest of your life.
Jeremy and Miranda Caverley spread the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ through music, speaking, preaching, and the online show JMC LIVE. They can be reached at JMC Ministries.