For several days now the weather has been unusually warm for May in England, so much so that it has been refreshing to walk into an air conditioned store. All of a sudden you feel less tired, more lively, able to breathe again and wide awake.
This reminds me of something Peter said at Pentecost which is worth a moment’s thought.
Addressing the crowds at Solomon’s porch, he said, “Repent and turn again that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things spoken of by the prophets of old.” (Acts 3:19-21)
The Greek word for “refreshing” is ANAPSUXIS and it is as near as one can get for an ancient word for “air conditioning”. This was promised before the Lord returned, in fact during the “times of restitution”. Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things”. (Matt.17:11) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” (Malachi 4:5)
So much is being taught today about the Church being whisked away into the clouds, followed by a great tribulation, but little attention is paid to these times of restitution, when the earth will be granted God’s air conditioning from the present stress and strain of living. Let me leave this with you for further thought.
