Baptist City Blog

John had been exiled to the isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel. Apparently, he must have felt that his preaching days were over. You can imagine how he must have felt being alone on a small rocky isle, yet God was not done with the Apostle. God said in the verse above, “Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” The promise to preach again to people had to give hope to this Apostle who must have thought that his preaching days were over. History doesn't tell us much about John after his exile, but the Scriptures show us that his message has gone on for centuries since his graduation to Heaven through the Book of Revelation.

There is hope in the word, “again.” So many people have thought that their days of ministering to others were over because of sin, age, health or a transfer of ministry that seems to be struggling. Whatever your situation, let me remind you that God is the God of “again.” He always has a place to continue using you no matter what has come into your life to make it seem useless. Three things of which the word “again” can remind you.

First, life is never over. You may think your actions have ridden your spiritual influence as over, but God still has an “again” for you. There was an “again” for Peter after he denied Christ. There was an “again” for Samson after his life was ruined by sin. There was an “again” after John Mark quit and went back home. There was an “again” for Elijah after his moment of depression. There was an “again” for Lazarus after he died. My friend, life is never over with God. He always has an “again” for the person who will get back up and continue going.

Second, God may have to remake you before He can reuse you. Certainly, your life may have changed dramatically, but God can still remake you no matter what your situation may be. Health may have taken what others may consider your usefulness, but God is still capable of remaking you so that you can be used. Christian, God is the best at remodeling that which is broken down. He has remade many people after sin crushed their life. He has remade the ministry of many people who saw health take their original ministry away. Always remember, whatever you may consider the death sentence of your ministry is simply God’s remodeling garage for your life and ministry. There is still an “again” for you if you don't quit while He is remaking you.

Third, finished in God’s book is Heaven. The only time God is finished with your ministry on this Earth is when your feet are walking the streets of gold in Heaven. Until you graduate to Heaven, God has an “again” for you. Heaven is the only finish line for the Christian. If God has left you on this Earth, and obviously He has because you are reading this devotional, that means there is still an “again” in your life.

Christian, don't let the Devil discourage you to the point of quitting. Don't waste God’s “again” for your life. He has an “again” for you, but you are going to have to continue serving the LORD for the “again” to be realized. Many people have missed their “again” because they quit, but that doesn't have to be you. Let the promise that God gave to John that he would preach again be an encouragement to you that there is still an “again” for your life.