Follow the Leader

John 10:5 “…A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

How would you define a stranger? Obviously someone you don’t know. Or is it someone you know “of” but do not really know. Most people know of world leaders, or sports icons, or movie stars, or even religious and Christian leaders. But is knowing “of” the same as knowing?

Chapter 10 is a great illustration of how Jesus taught. In this case, he tells a story of a shepherd and sheep, and then when his listeners don’t quite get it, He tells it again a little differently. All the while, His point is that there is only one door, there is only one Shepherd, and only One to follow. And He knows His sheep, and He cares for His sheep like nobody or nothing else.

The symbolism is rich, and the parallel applications cut to the heart. Just who or what do we follow when we could be following the Shepherd? Do we even recognize when a stranger is enticing us to follow? In this case, that stranger is likely something or someone we know very, very well, and yet that stranger steers us away from the Lord.

Sure, Jesus here is also giving His Jewish followers a hint that others outside of their Judaism are invited to be sheep as well. Further, He warns of impostor shepherds, the hired hands who are not really interested in caring for the sheep.

We as Christians need to get better and better at “not even knowing” the voices of strangers. What is meant here is that we recognize the voice of the Shepherd, and when we “hear” another, we disregard that temptation to follow as being “not the Shepherd”. Make sense? Basically, the ideal would be that those strangers’ voices have no negative impact on the daily life of the Christian. Such is “not knowing the voice of strangers”.

Even those posing as religious or Christian leaders can lead others astray. Essentially, if any teaching of or urging to follow God is contrary to His Word, a stranger is behind it. Ultimately pastors and other teachers, parents, friends, etc. must be pointing the sheep directly to the Master, the Shepherd. Anything less is the mark of a stranger, in Jesus’ words, not mine.

This would naturally imply that we need to know the Shepherd, and we have His Word to help us get to know Him.

Oh yeah, last thing, Jesus said the sheep would FLEE from the stranger. So, are we fleeing from sin? Join with me in the battle to flee from that which is not of Christ!

Reminds me of Proverbs 22:3, “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.”

Let’s be wise, prudent, and when we see evil, hide ourselves from it.

To See or Not to See

John 9:39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."
What a great reminder just after Christmas, this gift from God, the Savior, has made it possible for eyes to be opened to who He is.
John 9 is primarily centered around the account of Jesus healing a blind man, and the disbelief that surrounds those around the man. The story is an easy read, and one does not have to delve very deeply into theology to get what is going on. Keep in mind, John is telling of Jesus’ divinity, that Jesus is God, and understanding that will really emphasize the teaching that Jesus brings here.

Of course, Jesus gets into trouble for healing someone on the Sabbath. But on this account, that argument dissipates quickly. More attention is focused on the Pharisees, the “religious” elite trying to get their heads around who this Jesus really is. They ask the man who healed him, and when he tells them, they don’t believe him anyway. So the Jews ask his parents, and they defer the question back to their son. He is older enough to answer for himself, but they were trying to save themselves from being outcasts from the synagogue. But they knew it was Jesus.

So many great verses in this chapter. Verse 25, “though I was blind, now I see”, as a response to the claim of Jesus being a sinner. Verse 27, “You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” as a response to the Pharisees’ insistence to keep hearing the story. I personally love the sarcasm there.

Yet Jesus, the master teacher, always has a lesson, for the readers then as well as for us now. There are so many people in this world who already have it “all figured out”. Essentially, they have no perceived need for God. Those are who Jesus would label as “already seeing”, just as He described the Jews/Pharisees here. Then there are those who are blind, and who long to see in the proper Light, that which is Jesus. That kind of “seeing” only comes from true belief in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation, the only source of redemption in God’s eyes.

As you read John 9, look at all the excuses, the diversions that are offered in opposition to Jesus. How do they compare with what we hear today? When others discredit the Savior, how do we respond? Do we point to others to answer the question, such as this man’s parents did? Or do we own the relationship we claim to have with Jesus, and point people directly to Him?

Indeed, those who already have life all figured out, as much as they think they “see”, are really living in the darkness, and we must keep pointing them to the true Light. Our Savior is the only source of healing for their blindness. Let’s pray that they will hear, listen, and respond.

A Light to lighten all

John 8:1 “But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.”
John 8:12 “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."”

OK, maybe you are wondering, what’s so special about verse 1. I asked the same when I started reading John 8 today. The word “But” had me looking back to chapter 7, where everyone went home. Jesus opted instead to go to a place where He would retreat to pray. Jesus was tired after a full day of teaching and deflecting challenge after challenge, and He prayed, readying Himself for another day of much of the same.

My main focus of this chapter then fell to verse 12. When I was in 8th grade, as part of a protestant church, we went through what is known as Confirmation, a ceremony that marked my entrance into church membership by way of a two-year-long process of education in that particular denominational faith. I can separately discuss why this is not the biblical manner of joining a church, why salvation and church membership is never a “process”, and yet that is not the point here. When young people are “confirmed” they are given a bible verse of the pastor’s choosing, to hold close to them.

Truth be told, other than remembering this verse as that of my confirmation, John 8:12 never did have particular meaning until I personally accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Up till then, I just felt good about the verse reference. Now, when Jesus says He is the Light, and when He says that by following that Light I will not walk in darkness, what tremendous meaning that takes on! Just like having a flashlight in a dark room, knowing Christ and having Him as a guide in this dark world brings everything into a bright perspective.

Believers, we have the Light of life. We have the Spirit of the Living God living in each of us. Wow! And note, Jesus said the he who follows Him WILL NOT walk in the darkness. He could have said, “might not”, or “can avoid the darkness”, but He does not. He says WILL NOT.

So are we truly following Him? Do we ever feel as if the darkness is overwhelming, that we suddenly cannot “see” well? If we follow that Light, truly walk as Christ would have us walk, the darkness need not affect us.

Now is the Time

John 7: 5-7
“For not even His brothers were believing in Him. So Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.”

It can certainly be frustrating for us when people hear the truth and do not believe it to be so. Before we form a pity party when people reject our Christian message, we should look at this passage. Jesus’ own brothers (yes, Mary and Joseph had other children, OK, so they are half-brothers) did not believe in Him. Tradition tends to hold their unbelief until after the resurrection.

The reality is that often people need to see something before they will believe it. This may be stretching the context a bit, so I will admit that up front. I just noticed in this text so much parallel to our world today and what we face. Scripture clearly points to people being sinful by nature. This is not really a very popular message, in case that is a shock to anyone. The Bible clearly points to our need for a Savior. And with the bad news of sin comes the good news of salvation. Yet, so few are willing to accept and believe that good news, or at least believe it according to how God demands we do so.

Salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, personally, is THE only way of salvation, and that is the truth. To accept that truth means to also accept what Jesus says in this passage, that its (the world’s) deeds are evil. And the world, for the most part, hates Jesus because he states that fact rather plainly.

In this passage, His brothers are trying to coax Him into making a big public display of His teaching, if in fact it is true, and if in fact He wants the world to know Him. But His timing is not their timing. Yet He challenges them to believe, stating that their time is always opportune, meaning that they could, at any time n their life, believe in Him.

We look forward to Christ’s return, and His timing is perfect. He’ll return on His time, not ours. So in the meantime, our time is also always opportune. Our time is now to accept Him personally. Our time is now to tell others about Him. Our time is now to live for Him. Not everyone will embrace us for this message. Many will even openly ridicule us for our belief. It’s not us they hate, but Jesus. Just as the apostles in Acts 1:8, we, too, are witnesses for Him. He - His truth - is on trial, and He calls on us as key witnesses to His defense. Let’s take advantage of our own opportune time.

Go to the Source

John 6: 41-71, specifically, verse 68, “Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.””

Peter had a way of stating things, of declaring the truth. Just say it like it is. He’s the one who answers Jesus in another account, “You are the Christ…” He’s also the one who first gets up to preach in the book of Acts, as he stakes his claim in the truth of the Word. Yes, Peter is an easy one to associate with when we see him struggle; the challenge from God’s Word to me today was to associate with Peter in his boldness to share that which is true.

Jesus in this chapter is explaining how it is not just an easy task to follow Him. It might even seem confusing at times from our human perspective. And Jesus here explains that He knows some will not follow. That doesn’t make it OK, but He knows it to be reality.

In our Christian lives, the going can certainly get tough. Life is not always “fun”. What Jesus offers is joy, that inner peace and satisfaction that can only come through saving faith in Him. My question is this: when things get really, really tough, where else is there to go but to Jesus, to His Word, to prayer to the Father. Really, what else will help the hurting believer? What else can comfort the hopeless? On the flip side, when life seems grand, and that inner joy expresses itself in what we see as happiness, who else should get the credit but Jesus?

What Jesus is teaching, and He does so over and over, is that when the focus shifts away from Him, the tough times will be overwhelming. When excitement is not grounded in Him, you end up with a superficial happiness. And when we truly associate ourselves with Christ, when we “eat His body, and drink His blood” (not literally, not cannibalism, remember, this is a Jewish audience to begin with), we may suffer heartache, just as He did. We may encounter those who hate this truth, just as he encountered. Yet He gives the believer direct access to God, the source of all comfort and strength.

Come to Jesus, know the Father, and the Spirit gives life eternal. God is the source of all we need for faith and practice. Really, where else could we go?

Do You Get It?

John 6:14-15 “Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.”

If I had to put a title to these two verses, it would be “They get it…but not quite.” The crowd around Jesus saw His miracles, heard His teaching, and got fed, potentially satisfying all they needed. They perceived Him to be the Prophet, to one who would come to rescue God’s people and reinstate their once-prominent position in the world. Jesus knows they want to make him king, in the earthly sense, to throw off Rome and lead this type of revival. So, they really didn’t get it after all.

More than that, after seeing miracles, and hearing Him teach, the only reason they follow Him to the other side of the lake is to satisfy their stomachs. This is where Jesus makes it clear that the Gospel is not a social one, but rather an eternal one. Sure, He met some social needs during His ministry, and He never left it there, and his meeting of earthly needs was coupled with those signs pointing to Him as Savior, as God. Remember, John writes about the divine Christ, so we actually pick up on the highlighted miraculous dealing of the Messiah here.

A favorite example of His greatness is here after He walks on the water and calms the storm. It is approximately 10 miles across the lake where they were going, and verse 19 says they had rowed three or four miles when the storm came up and Jesus walked to them. Note that after He gets into the boat with them, and the sea is calm, that immediately they were at their destination. The last six miles was instantaneous.

As Jesus continues teaching the next day, invariably He hits on the Gospel. We often wonder what God’s will is, how effectual His will is, and just how His will is played out. Perhaps we spend too much time trying to figure Him out, as opposed to just taking and holding on to what He actually gave us in His Word. Want to know what God’s will is? Verse 40 sums it up “that everyone who beholds (listens to, learns from) the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life…” He goes on to explain how on the last day He will raise the believer to Heaven. What a great hope we have in our Savior!

I pray that we truly “get” it!

Hear and Believe

John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
Typically, when I want to make sure the kids are listening, I’ll say something like “OK, guys, listen up. Really, pay attention.” I get the idea that when Jesus said “Truly, truly”, that He meant business. He was and is serious. Yeah, I know, He’s God, and everything He said was and is still true. Yet, the Master Teacher knew how to draw emphasis when He needed to. The “truly, truly” kind of breaks up the speaking to cause a physical change to one’s listening, and what follows is more certain to get into the listener’s brain.

Jesus is emphasizing His plan of salvation. Hear His Word. Believe Him. Earlier in the chapter we find out just why His opponents wanted to kill Him. By Him claiming to be the Son of God actually equated Him with God! If they had heard Him correctly, He was saying He is God. But they could not believe that. That was too much to accept.

I feel as though today at times the opposite is true. It is an easy thing to state belief in Jesus. More and more people will answer “yes” to “Do you believe in Jesus?” or so it may seem. Yet how many people have truly heard His Word? How many have truly heard what Jesus actually states about salvation, about following Him, about true repentance? James 2:19 tells us that even the demons “believe”, and where does that get them? Even there, James was responding to people who claimed to believe in God.

Let’s take that belief, and pair it with God’s Word, and make sure that we take Jesus’ “truly, truly” emphasis to heart. As we also read in this chapter, Jesus wishes to grant salvation to those very people. Those who will hear and accept.

To further His claim, He cites witnesses, using a framework understood by the legal system of the day. Two or more witnesses made a legal claim worthy of acceptance. Jesus cites four in support of who He is. He cites John the Baptist, He cites His own works/miracles, He points to the Father as a witness, and finally Scripture, His Word. His point? Accept Christ for who He says He is, God Himself. And by doing so, eternal life is a sure hope. Those accepting Him have passed out of death and into life. The language makes it clear, this is a done deal.

So, do you “truly, truly” believe?
So, let’s go help others hear that very same truth, God’s Word.

Hear for Yourselves

John 4:41-42 – “Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." “
This is a long chapter, and consists mostly of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and her conversation with Jesus. I’ve really enjoyed lately seeing how much application there is in these passages to us, today.

The woman encounters Christ and believes. She promptly tells others, and they believe her encounter, they even believe that what happened with her is because of Jesus. And yet, it appears they did not have the ultimate saving faith until they heard it from Him, from the words He put forth. And when they hear for themselves, they know; they believe and put their trust in the Savior.

So much of Scripture is instructive to the Christian as to what the saved life should look like. Not rules and regulations, but actual actions that are the result of the changed life, the life changed by the work of the Spirit. So the salvation comes, and then works follow. But why the works?

Well, our actions and attitudes as Christians should point others to Christ. The woman in John 4 had a life-changing experience, and apparently those around her saw that change. She told them the cause, she probably told them that they, too, needed to trust in this Jesus, and they trusted what she said. She made sure they searched and found the source, though.

Likewise, I pray for encounters such as this, where I have the opportunity to share Christ with others. But if I leave the conversation at “what Christ did for me” I am only giving a small piece of the story. People need the Word of God. My conversations to others are great when they involve God, Jesus, church and so on, yet if I fail to give them the Word along with that, I really don’t give them an opportunity to truly believe. Of course the Spirit can prompt an urging for someone to look into Scripture, I get that. Still, I must constantly remember to use God’s Word in my daily conversation. His Word is (indeed) sharper than any twp-edged sword. In short, His Word is effective, and I should use it much more than I do already.

It’s Christmas. Let’s tell people the real reason for the holiday. Then remember to point them to Luke 2 for the nativity story. Have them look into John 3, like yesterday, to answer why He did what He did in Luke 2. And so on. Isaiah 53 asks “Who has believed our report?” I cannot ask the same question until I have “reported” to them who Christ is and what He has done.

Pray for your and my effective evangelism efforts. Pray specifically for opportunity and people, by name. Pray that besides hearing us that they will hear themselves, from Him, and believe.

He Came to Save Us

John 3:17 – “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

I have enjoyed of late taking some time to focus on some “lesser known” verses in the chapters I read. John 3 is well known for verse 16, but even that verse is so much more powerful when you see how Jesus led up to it in verses 14 and 15. Verse 3 and 7 are well known for the command to be “born again.”

But being that it is Christmas time, when we actually celebrate His birth, this verse really brings home the reason for the season, if you will. Why did God send Jesus? Apparently, not to judge the world, but to save it. Verse 18 explains that those without Jesus are already condemned, they are already judged, so Jesus did not need to come to judge, but rather to save.

Don’t get me wrong, when He comes again at His second coming, He will indeed judge based on His word. We’ll see that in chapter 12. But from the time of His birth, even up to today, He came to save sinners. Given that Romans 3 explains clearly that all have sinned, Jesus’ offer of salvation, of saving belief in Him, is open to all who will accept Him. That is why He came, born humbly in some feeding trough for animals in an obscure, insignificant town.

Being that the world was already judged, it is miraculous and remarkable that God would care enough to make a way for Him to save us. And He did that through an incarnation of the divine into human flesh. He showed us how to live as one who truly loves God. He showed us how to respond to the darkness and ugliness that is all around us. He showed us what it means to need to escape judgment. And once He showed us that we needed to be saved, He saved us!

Authority

John 2:18 – “…What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?"

The question posed to Jesus by His detractors is a good one. It was clear that He spoke and taught with the authority in a way only He could. That question also challenges Christians today. Is there a good answer to it? You bet there is. God’s Word is just as authoritative today as it was then. Do you believe that?

Note how Jesus answers, though. He tells them to destroy the temple, and in three days He would rebuild it. Now, these are Jewish leaders He is talking to. Of course they are not going to destroy the icon of their belief system, their temple. They even respond pridefully about how long it took to build it. His disciples must have wondered why He answered as He did, but after His resurrection they “got it”.

In today’s culture, it is not politically correct to decry moral issues that are front-page news. To speak out boldly in favor of faithful and monogamous marriage, or to want to protect the unborn, labels you as a radical, a bible-banger, snake-handling Baptist. To claim there is but one way to secure eternal life with God, through saving belief in Jesus Christ as Savior makes you intolerant and offensive to even the religious.

But ultimately, it comes down to authority. And just as Jesus enemies did, so do our opponents want to know on what authority we make such “radical” stands. We need not be ashamed, as Paul says in Romans 1:16, of the truth of God’s Word, the truth of the Gospel, and the role of Scripture as our sole source of faith and practice in our lives.

So are we hearing from God regularly, daily? Let’s make sure we consistently open His Word and listen to what He has to say to us. And when we point out right and wrong, and are asked “Says who?” The answer is God; God says, He told us in His Word; that is authority enough.

The Light of the World

John gets right to the point. Jesus is God, and He always has been. Jesus is the Creator God. These chapters are packed with so much, and please allow me to simply share some notes I have made in my Bible as I have read this gospel.

How privileged the disciples and other eyewitnesses were to have had the Word dwell among them in the flesh. Their world was dark, not physically, but spiritually, yet the metaphor works very well. As you read “darkness”. Imagine trying to read instructions to some new gadget, but doing so without light. Such was the case for the religiously-minded when Jesus arrived on the scene. OK, such is the case today, too. People then, as now, were searching for God, for truth, yet were (are) hopelessly mired in darkness. Jesus tells us in other places about Him being the Light.

Light helps us see, yet sometimes light shows details we’d rather not look at. Mirrors come to mind as well. Ladies would rather not see wrinkles appear, guys like to not see those gray hairs or less-than-flattering side profiles. The light that Jesus brought revealed people’s need for Him, and that meant humbling themselves to accept a position of being “lost”, separated from God because of sin. Jesus came to brighten this dark world, and one would think this to be a great thing. Yet many chose rather to block out the Light; others, however, chose to embrace and utilize this eternal-life-giving Light.

John the Baptist had the honor to be the forerunner of the Messiah, and his humble preaching style is admirable. People loved to hear him preach and teach. Yet he continually placed the focus of his ministry on Christ, pointing people to Him. Look at the followers of John the Baptist who left him to follow Jesus, believing the prophet when he declared Jesus the Lamb of God. Jesus’ first disciples had been prepared by the Baptist to recognize His arrival. John sought neither glory nor recognition, fulfilling his ministry faithfully. He is a great example to follow for teachers and preachers today.

Just who deserves the glory and focus? None other than Christ.

John (the disciple) refers to Jesus as completely representative of grace and truth. In verse 18, he calls Him God. We should, too.

Today, in this day and age, we need this Light more than anything, and sadly, most of this world has chosen to live in the dark. If people look in the mirror in the dark, they don’t have to see their imperfections, but they are there. And if people don’t want to see their sinful position before God, that is, see themselves how God sees them, then they don’t have to, either.

Being the Christmas season, I can think of at least two instances of Jesus coming into the world as a baby marked by light: The light that shone around the shepherds as the angels announced His arrival; and the light from the star that the magi followed months later. The Light has indeed come; the Light will indeed come again.

The Divine Christ

If you care to join me, I'll be doing some devotional reading from John this month. Why John? Why not? OK, seriously, it's always a good practice to be reading a Gospel. The Gospels are where we find those direct teachings of Jesus, and although they all serve to focus on Him, each has its own distinct specific aspect of Christ in the crosshairs. John answers the question of "Who is Jesus?" with "He is God".

John's Gospel is very complementary to the other three, and yet it is distinct in that it has a very unique appeal. Not written specifically to a Jewish (Matthew), Roman (Mark), or Greek (Luke) audience, it addresses a universal audience. This was probably written after the other Gospels were already in circulation, and John sought to partray Jesus Christ as fully human and fully God.

Eternal life is a major theme in the book, and some of the major events of Jesus' life are recorded here, some of which should be part of the believer's normal everyday life and conversation as we interact with those around us who still need Christ.

Remember that John is the disciple to whom Jesus entrusts His mother at the crucifixion. John is often referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved", and as you read through this narrative, keep in mind the close, dear, personal friendship this author had with the Savior while Jesus was on earth. Years after Jesus' ascension, John maintained a vital, healthy ministry in the region of Asia to which the letters are written in Revelation. That Jesus chose this disciple as the receipient to those end-times visions should cause us to take special note to what this book has to offer.

Take a quick read through the first few chapters, take some notes as the Word speaks to you. We'll dive in together tomorrow. Jesus: fully God, fully man. A great study this Christmas season!

Take heed to our ministry

I’ve really enjoyed a quick read through Colossians. I encourage such a read regularly; it really helps keep our focus in life on Christ. And how does Paul end this epistle, which is basically a Christology? By highlighting what the lives of strong believers look like, based on following the Almighty Christ.

Devoted to prayer, and prayer with an attitude of thanksgiving. Prayer for open doors for the gospel message. Prayer for clear speech when presenting the gospel. Yes, we know we need to share the gospel, and how often do we remember to pray for those opportunities, open doors, and clarity of speech? The Spirit desires to help, if we’ll let Him.

We need wisdom toward “outsiders”, those outside of faith in Christ. A focus on truth and defending our faith is great, and we also need not be belligerent in how we present that. Our speech should be such that those in need of Christ want to hear us, want to listen to our message; or if they are offended, that perceived offense should only be the working of the Spirit on their hearts, offending them about their sin.

Making the most of opportunities is a key as well. We ought to pray for our sensitivities to be sharpened to see more of the opportunities that face us each day. It is so easy to miss them, as we busy ourselves with ourselves.

Epaphras labored "earnestly" in his prayers for others to stand firm. What a great prayer from one believer for another!

Finally, we have been handed a ministry, just like Archippus. And we, too, should take heed to that ministry. We are to be on guard, be careful, in essence, take care of it. And we do this so that we can fulfill it! Paul uses some military terms here; so, as a soldier takes his role seriously, we, too need to own the ministry from Christ, which is the Gospel of Christ!

Old or New?

Read Colossians again, sure the whole book, it takes 10-15 minutes, max. Chapter 3 caused me much pause to reflect.

What better place to look for optimism, for something positive, than “above”. This is where we should set our mind, on “things” related to Christ, who has hidden our old lives in Him. When God the Father looks at the believer, He sees Christ. What could make us feel better than that? But it is much more than a feeling, it is fact, and that fact should change lives.

Colossians 3 tells us what we should consider dead. If we are commanded to stop doing something, these headline that list:
Immorality, impurity, passion (the inappropriate variety), evil desire and greed, basically – idolatry.

There are more: anger, wrath, malice (cruel spite), slander, abusive speech, lying.

Yet the focus on this chapter is remembering what Christ has done on our behalf, and now with the power of the Holy Spirit, we actually CAN put these old things away, and the best way to do that is to “put on” the new attributes that signify the believer.

Compassion, kindness, humility (can we ever have enough of this one?), gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiveness, love.

Christ’s peace should dwell in us, we should be under His direction, His rule. The most direct way for this to happen is to have His word dwell in each of us. Does God’s word reside in us? Do we take in enough of His word regularly to allow it to impact our lives? Or do we struggle with the “don’ts”, wondering why we continually succumb to sin habits?

Brothers and sisters, let’s take some significant time to invest in God’s word, allowing it to form and frame our thought, enabling it to foster real change in our lives, for His glory.

The Incomparable Christ

After a couple weeks of what I call "corrective reading", where I see to focus on on the corrections demanded of us in the Bible (all very much needed), I tend to turn to what I might call a "feel good book". Usually, that's Philippians fo rme, yet yesterday I opened to Colossians and read that epistle. It is indeed good to study, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and yet these epistles are very much designed to read straight through, to get the big picture. And along the way, with Christ clearly square in the center of this one, one can't help but pick up on those "feel good" commands, suggestions, or simply the holy attributes of Christ. So many good things we can be busying ourselves with.

Chapter 1, for instance. Praying always. Rejoicing over hearing of the faith of others. Seeing the gospel bearing fruit in ourselves and others. The quest for spiritual knowledge and understanding. Giving thanks to the Father for our inheritance, which we "already, but not yet" have.

Christ, the Creator, rescued us! He made us to no longer be enemies of God, by His work on the cross and our acceptance of that gift. He has made us all ministers of His gospel. That former "mystery" is now revealed. Christ gives the hope of glory. What a great epistle to bring us into the Christmas season. Join me in thanking Him today.

Christian Honor

Proverbs 29 presents more warnings and instructions, offering a variety of alternating negatives and positives as guides for wise living. James 4 offers similar advice, and I know I cannot write day after day on James, even though he never gets old! This morning I did purpose to focus on the many positive commands in Proverbs 29, knowing that if we can simply make time to manage these aspects of the Christian life, we leave very little if any time for the sinful desires that tend to captivate us.

Go through the chapter, and note those positives. Here are some I jotted down, regarding wisdom and/or righteousness, either direct commands or attributes of the wise/righteous (God-fearing):
The man who loves it makes his father glad
Sings and rejoices
Turns away anger
Is concerned about the rights of the blameless
Holds back one’s temper
Will see the fall of the wicked

Honor used to be important, and we are told here that the humble will obtain honor. Honor these days is talked about nostalgically, something that fits the old, the seasoned, the old-timers, those from the “old school”. Our lives in Christ need to be no less honorable, and there needs to be honor restored to being Christian, to take stands for what is right by Him.

Do we exalt ourselves? Absolutely not. “Trust in the Lord”, that is a command which will result in exaltation by God Himself.

The “upright”, those God-fearers are hated by (“abominable to”) the wicked. Jesus Himself warned of that hatred, since they hated Him first.

James, in chapter 4 reminds us up front that the quarrels and conflicts we find all around us can be attributed to our own pleasure-seeking. His recommendation?
Submit to God
Resist the devil
Draw near to God
Cleanse, purify
Humble yourselves

I and you alike know right from wrong. It is the choosing that gets us. As we walk in the Way of the Truth and the Life, let’s strive to choose wisely, let’s begin anew today.

Living for Him = Seeking His Wisdom

Wisdom and understanding: can we ever get enough of both? It was interesting this morning to compare three wisdom texts, Proverbs 24, James 3, and Psalm 90.

When people are wronged, oppressed, maligned, we certainly pray for God to deliver them. Perhaps we even seek retribution ourselves; even if we do not, we can tend to feel indignant toward those “oppressors”. God assures us that He will deal with them eventually. We would do best to let Him be that arbiter of justice while we go about our search for His wisdom and understanding.

God does warn those who prey upon the righteous. Again, He will deal with those predators, and the harsh reality is that they have no future, no hope. What more could I possibly do regarding vengeance? I would only be trying to please myself. God’s holy plan is sufficient.

Fear the Lord, judge fairly. The rules are simple.

We all need to be much more diligent in life, when it comes to living for Him. My prayer is that my life, your life, never becomes metaphoric to match that in verses 30-34. Now is the time we have been given to get to work.

James, in Chapter 3 chimes in. This time, my focus shifted to the second half of the chapter. We covered the tongue and related warnings last time we were here. James challenges us to look for wisdom from above. The wisdom of the world is demonic, deceptive. Compare that to God’s: pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, unwavering, no hypocrisy. How do we attain to that wisdom? It certainly starts with His Word, and that healthy Fear of Him.

I then went to Psalm 90, an interesting perspective on wisely dealing with what God has for us. This psalm was written by Moses in the wilderness when Israel was wandering. Previously, Israel had decided not to go into the Promised Land, fearing the inhabitants as opposed to trusting in God. Their judgment was to wander in the wilderness until all those in that adult generation had died off. 38 years of wandering (it took about 1.5 - 2 years to trek from Egypt to Israel as God directed and prepared them), 40 years total. Most conservative scholars estimate the number of those adults was approximately 2 million. In 38 years, there are nearly 20 million minutes, so every 10 minutes, on average, someone was dying. That is a great deal of grief and stress to deal with, and in the middle of that, Moses disobeys, strikes a rock, and is also banned from entering the Land.

So, what does Moses write? “You are God.” “Teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.” Read through that psalm, listen to Moses’ prayer in the face of what he was dealing with. He knows the reason for the judgment, and never slights God in the least for His decisions. Rather, Moses continues to seek wisdom, to the end of His days.

SO WHAT…?

So, too, must we sek wisdom, God's, that is.

So, think about it. If we truly live for God, we will live wisely. If we are not living wisely, according to God’s commands, then we are not truly living for God. In short, we cannot say we live for him, and then not seek His wisdom. We cannot live with a mediocre fear of the Lord and yet say that we live for Him. Please pray and strive along with me to better fear Him and live for Him.

Priority in Life

Sometimes, OK, probably often, the simplest truths are the most meaningful, and even the toughest to maintain faithfully.

In Proverbs 23, in the middle of some basic "do's" and "don'ts" appears "Live in the fear of the Lord...ALWAYS. (caps and ellipses added). Do I live in that healthy fear of the Lord? Am I striving to master the basics?

Soon after this appears the best investment advice I can find. "Buy wisdom, do not sell it." This is the best commodity to acquire and hold onto. So what have I "bought? What do I live for? And if I am in the Word regularly, I'm in the right place to "shop".

Wealth, drink, food, property, all seem to be hot items here, highly sought-after items. Yet wealth flies away like the eagle. Plentiful drink and food can make us selfish, or even feed our desire for more, as we slowly lose our pursuit of the Lord. Naturally, these items are not bad in and of themselves. Yet we are cautioned to love God more.

We can also pursue wisdom, instruction, understanding, and the degree to which we do so will guide how we live. Those we seek to reach for Christ will watch how we prioritize. They will watch how we make life choices, how we raise our children, how we deal with money and property and all those "things" that are inherent to this world. It's not having "stuff" that is the concern, but rather what we do with it, from our house, to our family, to our leisure time, to our thoughts words and deeds.

This proverb writer (likely Solomon) wants as much as anything for his son to live wisely. If we do not train our kids to live wisely (not just obey), then why have them?

James, in chapter 2 talks on wealth, reminding the church to be impartial to those wealthy or poor, for their hearts are what matter. Yeah, James read Proverbs, I'm certain.

He speaks on being selfless, if I can help someone, I should do so, and not wait.

He speaks on proper faith, proper fear of the Lord, after all, even demons believe in God. It is this proper faith that will guide my works, my daily living, and I should be able to look back each day and see how my life is prioritized. In short, I must live a life that shows people Christ.

Learn and Grow to be Spiritually Rich

I am beginning to better appreciate what an apostle like James thought about the Proverbs. Today, after reading Proverbs 22, I went to James 1, and verses which were not as impactful the last time demanded my attention. OK, I’ll explain. And along the way, the "SO WHAT" is clear.

In Proverbs 22, among many other topics, the writer speaks of humility and its reward along with the fear of the Lord. He speaks of thorns, those trouble spots in life that hurt us when we are not careful, the grief we bring on ourselves, might be a better way to put it. If we guard ourselves, we will be far from those thorns. We have in our realm the ability to make choices, as well as the ability to deal with the associated repercussions.

And if I am to live in such a spiritual manner, I am also to teach my children likewise. I can’t train them to be perfect, yet I can train them to understand spiritual ways, to understand that choices matter and how to own them. Whether or not they practice them, as they grow up, they will remember these principles.

So is my spiritual lifestyle one which strives for purity of heart? Is my speech gracious? Or am I more likely to associate with a deceptive lifestyle of that of the adulteress, or perhaps the foolish, even those who oppress the poor. II will see a result of being spiritually full or empty, the writer refers to this as rich or poor.

How do we manage to do all these spiritual activities? LEARN and GROW! And why? So that our trust will be in the Lord. In verses 20 and 21, the writer states as much, explaining some reasoning behind the writing. We need to be able to correctly answer those with questions, moving beyond feelings, to get to the heart of matters.

Verse 24 begins a short list of personal associations we would be best to avoid: the angry, the hot-tempered, those who give pledges (promises that are never fulfilled), and who cheat to get even more (landowners would try to move boundary markers in the night to expand their land). If these are our associations, and correction and growth are never offered or challenged, (remember, we are to guard ourselves) we may end up spiritually poor. Rather, such individuals do need our encouragement, and they also need to grow. They need our help alongside them, and they need to own their choices and strive to increase their fear and trust of the Lord. Further, I must check my self against that list, and see where I need to improve and grow.

So I mentioned James, and I read him every day now. How would he parallel Proverbs 22 in his first chapter?

Endurance, patience, in short, be complete! If we lack wisdom, and much of the caution from the proverb speaks of gaining wisdom, then we are to ask of God. He gives generously, just as we are to be generous. He’ll show us how to get it done.

James speaks of the rich and poor in verse 9, and the comparison to the proverb is unmistakable. Where are our hearts? How do we seek to cope with our own struggles, and do we seriously seek to improve them, so they do not lead to more thorns in our metaphorical path of life?

If we truly seek and desire to grow, then James offers a simple reminder: “in humility, receive the word.” If we can get into and stay in His word, God offers wisdom, and abundantly so.

Listen, Understand, Grow Up!

In chapter 19 of Proverbs, much warning is given toward issues such as false witness, against anger. It is always easy to focus on the “shouldn’ts”, and let’s be honest, we need them. Though I never personally calculated this, I am told approximately 70% of the bible is corrective in nature. I have recently been picking up on these corrections in Proverbs, the warnings and admonishments, and I also try to regularly encourage people to focus on the things we SHOULD be doing. If we did them more, we would have so much less time and energy to do the “old self” things; in fact, they would eventually drop off the radar, as we could fill our time with those positive activities and mindsets.

For instance, in this chapter, look at some of the positive actions we can just as easily pursue. “Get wisdom”, “discretion”, “Slow to anger”, “overlook a transgression”. If we could just put these together, we would wisely and discretely be slow to anger while we overlook transgressions of those around us. Sounds easy, huh? OK, let’s get right on that. And that’s only one little area.

I also spent some time looking into this notion of a prudent wife. Prudent, I can’t say I have ever called my wife that. However, a wife who is wise in living, one who is viewed as a valued asset to a family (“asset” in the realm of adding significant value), is indeed a tremendous blessing from the Lord. And I certainly consider myself blessed.

Some other positives that God tells us to do or be likewise: “gracious”, “listen to counsel”, “kindness”. Building on previous days’ readings (being encouraging, guarding the tongue) we could all do with a little more kindness and grace toward each other, to our families, to our kids and co-workers. These days, people really don’t want advice, because they don’t like what they hear. That is unfortunate, as we can find the counsel we all need, if we would only open ourselves to it. It is much easier to simply stay living in our current frustration that to take steps to improve, thus the human condition, and thus the need for reliance upon the Spirit’s work in our lives. Here’s a vote for heeding that Spirit’s advice.

After all, one can only reprove or help a person who truly wants and seeks understanding and wisdom. What a great goal to “sleep satisfied”, which comes from that healthy fear of the Lord we have all read about. That fear and our seeking understanding are so closely related.

Never, never, never stop listening. To do so would be to stray away from knowledge. Sadly, many have so strayed.

Quickly, jump to James 5, the last verse. Just as Proverbs 19 stated about overlooking a transgression, so James speaks on “turning a sinner from the error of his way.” When done in love and proper context, this is a powerful tool in the hands of a believer. It takes one to graciously offer correction, and also one to graciously accept that. That, my friends, is a tough balance. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to grow up. That is great advice, and that is the “SO WHAT” for today.

Oppose Pride, Strive for Humility

As I read through Proverbs, I am continually reminded that I must pick a side: wisdom or folly, wicked or righteous. Chapter 18 brings to light the fool’s lips, the fool’s mouth, and the words of the whisperer. These words are described as a dainty morsel. I get the image of a delicious piece of chocolate which tastes so good, so easy to indulge in. Yet, if I indulge in such words, if I even allow the “whisperer” to continue, some potentially irreparable harm can be the result.

To the reader at that time, wealth would have been compared to a strong city with high walls. Yet we are told a strong tower is the name of the Lord. Simply put, true riches are found in the Lord, the strongest of all.

Put humility before honor. Often this is much easier said than done, and it is crucial to a successful spiritual life.

Above I mentioned potential harm from the misuse of communication. I read here that an offended brother can be more difficult to “win” than a strong city. In battle, a strong city was a tremendous obstacle. To defeat it would have taken slow and steady, consistent strategy. So this is compared to winning back a brother who has been offended. It might not seem right, but an offense can happen so quickly, and restoration can take a long, long time. Thus we are urged and reminded to be careful of allowing our foolish nature to offend.

Compare how the poor man and rich man (according to the word’s standards) approach God. The poor man cries out in supplication, an earnest pleading to the Lord for his needs. The rich man speaks in a rough manner, as though he is “owed” something.

Apparently popularity was an issue even back when this was written. It appears we can actually strive to have too many friends, and maintaining so many relationships can lead a man to ruin. This is not just a “throw-away” phrase, God penned it for a reason. He seems to think much more of friends who actually can stick closer than a brother. The ideal seems to seek out and connect with those who can serve as friend and brother both.

If you turn to James 4, you will see that he, too comments on self-centeredness. It was a problem then; it is a problem now. God still desires humility, as He is “opposed to the proud,” and He gives “grace to the humble”, as James quotes the Old Testament. As a result, we are commanded to submit to God! He will deal with exalting the humble.

That friend/brother concept continues here, in that we are reminded to avoid “running down” others, as described in verse 11. It is just so easy to talk and talk, and forget that in the process of talking and “self-centering” that we might do harm to the testimony of another. James warns over and over to be careful.

We do think much of ourselves, yet we are a passing vapor, given a short time to make this life count for God. When we boast in anything but God, we can be arrogant. When we boast in God, we reflect the glory that is already His.

SO WHAT…?

So, I pray that I truly seek strength and refuge in that strong city which is the Lord. Within His protective walls, nothing can harm.

So, I purpose to hush the whisperers, to defend the one spoken about, and to pick the side of the wise.

So, join me in building someone up today, tomorrow. Doing so will take humility. God will be pleased.

How's the Tongue?

“The Lord tests hearts”. I am so glad He does that, because that is a job far too hard for someone like myself with so many shortcomings. This chapter (17) of Proverbs is a great place for that tone to be set, God testing and knowing hearts. So much of what follows seems harsh, troubling, but very real, and I am thankful we have a holy and just God to sort it all out.

Spoken of are those with “destructive tongues”, and “listeners to wicked lips”. The writer speaks of the comparison between excellent speech and lying lips. When speech and communication is handled poorly, is threatens intimate friendships (v.9). And when strife ensues, it is wisely the best option to simply “abandon the quarrel”. Notice that this does not necessarily mean that the situation is made “all better”, it simply states to not let strife build. It is so much better to walk away from the quarrel, to simply quit arguing a point that will go nowhere. No wonder this passage is mixed in with rebuking those who understand versus dealing with what God here in a negative way calls “fools”.

One does not have to look far to see how society today justifies that which is wicked, and condemns that which is righteous. So it is only fitting that we not only need friends, but also we need brothers (and sisters). We need those who will stand beside us in adversity, not simply hang in there with us when life is good. Show me that person who can experience the worst times with you, and build you up, and you have found a brother/sister, a true relative, in the biblical sense of the word.

We all need that help, because evil is all around, you can see it in those who “love transgression”, who have a “crooked mind”, and who use “perverse language”. Besides our closest allies, we have something else on our side, a “joyful heart”. This is “good medicine”, readily available to us believers to ward off what could easily throw us off a godly walk.

Want to find knowledge? Look for one who can restrain words. Want to seek understanding? You’ll find it in a “cool spirit”.

I wonder what James had to say on these topics. In chapter 3, he devotes much time to the potential of the tongue. Small, destructive, restless evil, full of poison. Cheerful, huh?

It is actually repugnant to think that we use this body part to bless God and His name, and then turn around and use it to curse men, to defile people. Great chapter of James, he was pretty intent on getting people to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk. Doers, not just hearers, as he wrote earlier. James felt strongly that brothers and sisters in Christ should watch out for one another, that the cause of Christ was far more important than letting that cause be destroyed by the poor testimony of believers who could not control their thoughts, actions, and here, tongues.

We must continue to seek wisdom from above, remember how we achieve that wisdom? By developing and maintaining a healthy fear of the Lord.

SO WHAT…?

So, I must be careful in what I say and how I say it as I continue to work for Him. This includes rebuke and commendation of others, as described biblically.

So, I need to continually check my fear of the Lord? Just how much do I revere and respect Him, and how does that show?

So, though not in these specific passages, forgiveness toward those who have expressed the evils described in these passages is necessary and vital to one’s spiritual health, all part of wise living.

People see our hearts. Can they see God when they do?

My initial intent in daily writing, blogging now, if you will, was simply to encourage others to be in the Bible daily. God has given us His source for wisdom, for skillful living, and that source more often than not goes un-tapped. Frustrations abound in life, this we already know, and there really is no other remedy for what life has to throw as us besides His Word. Along the way as we read, we cannot help but “hear” Him speak to us, perhaps uniquely to each of us, through the inspired words he Authored. I’ll pick up another book of the Bible to study through here soon, and for now, I am just sharing what God has laid upon my heart through His major wisdom books, which I encourage each and every Christian to read from daily, separate from other Bible reading.

In Proverbs 16, more phrases caught my attention: “plans of the heart”, “the Lord weighs motives”, “proud in heart”, and there are others. I came to verse 6, one I have read before, and the phrase the “fear of the Lord”, this time caused me to pause. Here, that reverent awe should be evidenced by my keeping away from evil. We must all purpose to avoid evil, to keep away from it. If we truly fear the Lord, we will not want to see how close we can get to sin without sinning, far from that! We will want to take steps to ensure that we do not.

More phrases: “man makes his plans, the Lord directs his steps”, the highway of the upright is to depart from evil”. Man, there it is again! OK, God reminds us of these things because He knows we need it.

How do we avoid evil, and do the right thing? Verse 20 makes it seem easy and very clear, “give attention to the word.” Someone before me used to write in the front of his bible, “this book will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this book.” Very true.

When you see phrases repeat, and read and re-read, you can’t help but notice the patterns and intent of the words. One such phrase is the “heart of the wise”, and putting thoughts together, we see that this heart is demonstrated in sweetness of speech. The wise heart has sweet speech. As with most (OK – ALL) Christian activity, the heart is the key, our motives are what people see, based on the actions that come forth from us.

So, as yesterday, I flipped to James, and today in chapter 2, James writes that we are to beware of evil motives. I have a feeling James read the Proverbs a few times in His life (after all, his half-brother Authored them!). We are to simply speak and act as though we might actually be judged based upon those words and actions (and we will). Simply put, we need our works to show, and when we realize that those works will show what is truly in our heart, we need to ask ourselves how we are doing in the “fear of the Lord” department.

SO WHAT…?

So, am I in the Word regularly, daily, multiple times a day, am I meditating on His word in order to allow Him to change my heart?

So, understanding that my actions who my heart, how do I see my motives: God-honoring or selfish? Selfless or prideful? Is my speech sweet to others, or is it only pleasing to me?

So, what phrases catch your attention? How can God change you through His Word? List some ways, specifically, force yourself to answer the question, and then allow God’s Word to begin making those changes.

Who have I encouraged lately?

I personally enjoy reading the bible to dig deeper into its rich theology, and in doing so, I continue to come across the “regular” everyday life wisdom and application. Seems to be the way God intended it to come across. Back in May I started to read Proverbs to start each day, tapping into one of God’s resources for wise living. Then recently I added James and a Psalm to that daily routine. James is often referred to as the “Proverbs of the New Testament”, and Psalms serves as a great reminded to praise God, no matter what.

In light of some recent personal life events, I am amazed at the different verses that jump out at me each time I read through these books. I am on my seventh time through Proverbs, and I am seeing verses that I surely read before but never paused to reflect on.

For instance, this morning, in Proverbs 15, one theme really touched my heart. Look at the different way the writer says much of the same thing: “Gentle answer”, “tongue of the wise”, “soothing tongue”, “lips of the wise”.

And there’s more…”slow to anger”, “pleasant words are pure”, heart of the righteous ponders how to answer”, and “before honor comes humility”.

So, now flip to James 1. “Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger”. We are told there as in the Proverb, that these qualities help pursue righteousness, and that by these we will achieve the righteousness of God. An obvious way that God works through us is by our speech, by our conduct toward others. By yielding to the Spirit, who urges us to act according to righteousness, God makes us more like Christ, if we will only let Him.

James says that we should receive the word in humility. If there is an area where we have no trouble whatsoever, it is thinking well of ourselves. Where we really need God’s help is in thinking more of Him, more of each other, and humble service in honor of Christ. Who doesn’t need more of God’s wisdom?

I am awed by the simple complexity of God’s Word. Why does God have to tell us over and over how to live for Him? Apparently we need the constant reminders. I know I do!

SO WHAT…?

So, does this mean we are to be timid people afraid to say the wrong thing to someone? No, quite the contrary. We are to seek out opportunities to speak an encouraging word. We are also to react to those “less than encouraging” with being slow to anger, humble.

So then, it is also only natural that we would seek the companionship and friendship of those who express these qualities of righteousness. So, likewise, I must strive to express them myself.

So, am I an encouragement to others? Really, am I? Is my tongue, my speech, soothing? When people hear me, do they hear righteousness or foolishness? And no matter what their response, do I consistently display Christ-likeness? At the beginning and end of each day, I pray I have done all with a sincere and humble heart, just like God told me in His Word.

REVELATION 22

The curse on God’s creation is no longer. That which was the result of the Fall in Eden is past. As this revelation to John comes to a close, it is clear that we will serve God forever in His new creation, with our Lord as the source of illumination.

Isn’t it great to know that His words are Faithful and True, that He is Faithful and True? When He speaks, what He says is true. And He says He is coming quickly. It could literally be at any time.

Once again John revers an angel, falling down in worship, and again he is told to worship God. The magnitude of what is being revealed to him is overwhelming, and worship is just a natural reaction.

There appears to be no need for John to seal up this revelation, its contents are ready and available to be read and heard. This end of the present age is imminent. Daily life is to continue, as described in verse 11.

Christ is indeed coming quickly, to judge completely and accordingly. Those who have understood how to become clean, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are blessed to be able to partake of the tree of life. This eternal life will be just that - eternal.

Jesus had sent His angel to John, to ensure that His message, “Come to Me”, would be told and repeated. Christ invites all to come, He calls everyone to join Him. We, in turn, who believe, ask the same of Him. Amen, come Lord Jesus.

SO WHAT...?

So, I ask those of you who are believers. Will you tell others until He comes?

So, I ask those of you who may not yet be believers, will you come to Him? He’s waiting, and there is no time like the present to accept that gift of Christ. Scripture tells us today is the day of salvation.

Eternity is settled, all that remains regarding final judgment is to populate the Lake of Fire and the new Creation. I pray we’ll see each other in the latter.

REVELATION 21

Genesis begins with Creation. Revelation ends with a new Creation, a new heaven and earth. In between, God creates new life in the believer (“if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” 2 Cor. 5:17). The center of focus in the new creation is the “New Jerusalem”. The church, the bride, has been made ready, sanctified, and now the place that Christ went to prepare for her (see John 14) is ready.

At some point in the wilderness, God ordered the tabernacle to be moved outside the main camp, as God no longer would dwell among His people, based on their refusal to fully trust and obey. Later, His glory left the temple, when Israel’s idolatry could not be tolerated. Here, as we read in Revelation, God will again dwell among His people, all those who chose to believe. Here they will no longer experience any more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Emphatically, John is told to write it down, “I will make all things new.” God will make good on such promises. And in the same way, His holiness demands justice, and again John is told of those unbelieving, and their doom in the Lake of Fire. Hell is real, and we Christians should not be afraid to say so.

From a great and high mountain, John sees this great city, the New Jerusalem, from above, and he records its measurements, its dimensions, and how beautifully adorned Christ’s capital city will be. Here, there is no temple, as God will be (is) the center of worship.

These city gates will never close (OT city gates needed to do so for protection), there is no need for these doors to close. The saved in Christ will be there, it will never be dark, illumined by God, the source of glorious light.

SO WHAT...?

So, I can’t wait to see this city. OK, I still have work to do for Christ here and now, and no, I am not eager to die just yet. But if this chapter does not excite me as a Christian, I need a reality check for sure.

So, I mentioned Hell is a real, eternal place, just as this new creation, this new heaven and earth. If you’ve never trusted Christ personally, won’t you consider doing so? Or if you have done so, and just haven’t quite surrendered your life to Him completely, what better life could there be, than to follow and live for the eternal King?

REVELATION 20

We tend to forget that the victory is already won! Christ made it a point to show John, and remember, John sent warning, rebuke, and encouragement to those seven churches. They got to read what we get to read. Stay strong, Christ wins!

Here in chapter 20, that final battle with Satan is depicted, and it starts with that dragon being bound, literally imprisoned in the abyss, for 1000 years. Not coincidentally, this is the duration of the Millennial Kingdom, with Christ ruling and reigning for that same period of time.

Striking to John is the number of martyrs he sees, those who would not and did not deny Christ; they simply would not take the mark of the beast. Their reward? They are on the victorious side with Christ. They, along with all other saints prior to this time, have been made part of the first resurrection. “Blessed” is what they are called, and we do not fully grasp just what that word conveys.

As for the second resurrection? Nothing anyone would want to be a part of, yet all those along the way who have denied Christ, having never received him personally as Savior, will be a part of this. This resurrection, at the end of the 1000 years, is a literal raising of those dead unbelievers and those who were defeated at the end of the Tribulation.

Also occurring at the end of the Millennium is the release of Satan for a “short time”. During this time, he will deceive many Millennium dwellers for one final rebellion against Christ. Keep in mind, some believers are alive at the end of the Tribulation and physically enter the Millennial Kingdom (since they would not have been destroyed at the end of the Tribulation. They will have children, born to mortals, born sinners, still needing obedience to Christ for salvation. Some will apparently choose not to follow Christ, and thus are targets for Satan’s deception. This is who he will gather for rebellion.

One last time, Christ defeats Satan and those remaining loyal to him, casting them into the Lake of Fire. Those part of that second resurrection are also judged before the Great White Throne, and sentenced forever to the Lake of Fire.

SO WHAT...?

So, take heart Christian, in the end Christ wins! We win!

So, what a great story I have to tell, what a great and triumphant future lies ahead, and all Christ asks is that we believe in and follow Him, with all out heart, soul, mind, and strength. Join me in the battle today, He’ll win the final one for us later.

REVELATION 19

Four Hallelujah’s go up! There is praise in Heaven! God’s judgments are true and righteous! God’s people had been wronged by physical and spiritual oppression, and vengeance is His, not theirs. And Almighty God reigns forever.

Two meals are represented here in Chapter 19. The first is that which celebrates the marriage of the Lamb to His bride. The church has been prepared for this moment, to live and reign with Christ, and those invited to this marriage supper are indeed blessed. All those who in this life, or the Tribulation, accept Christ personally, are invited to so dine with Him. The sight of this event caused John to want to worship the angel with him, and he is told to worship God instead.

Verses 11 - 16 may be the most exciting and encouraging passage of Scripture written. Christ returns to earth, the literal second coming, riding a white horse. The battle of Armageddon will end now. Faithful and True, he judges the earth while waging war with those remaining enemies of His. He is the Word of God, and an army of those who just dined with Him join Him in this campaign. By his Word, the nations are judged. He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

The second meal represented is a bit gruesome. God calls for the birds to feed on the remains of those in the aftermath of the battle. The devastation left behind by the King and the army of the church, the saints, will be unmistakable. Only one judgment remains for those who have died unbelieving.

The beast (antichrist) and the false prophet are seized, and thrown alive into the Lake of Fire, what we understand to be Hell, a real place of eternal torment. Any others remaining were destroyed by the righteous judgment of Christ, that sword proceeding from His mouth, His Word.

SO WHAT...?

So, Jesus came as a humble baby, sacrificed Himself for the sake of all who would believe, and will return as the conquering King. Those in Jerusalem during passion week expected this entry then. It will come, and I am grateful for His work that made that time to be a triumph for me, and all who believe.

So, while many despise the harshness of some details of a chapter such as this, the account, though in the future, is as real as any in the past. And no matter what, God is great, His holiness demands justice.

REVELATION 18

Babylon’s defeat is certain. That world system of deceit, consisting of political corruption, religious falsehood, that safe haven of false ideology and anti-God way-of-life, has met its Judge. She was sensuous, appealing, and many fell into her trap, doomed forever.

Even here, at the time John foresees, God calls His people to come out of her, to leave her, as God is judging her, and no follower of God is to be among her. The kings of the earth, those world rulers, have chosen poorly. And John uses the familiar funereal cry of “Woe, woe”, to emphasize the plight the world finds itself in.

Commerce will have dried up, the world’s business will have come to a standstill. People realize who Babylon is, what she has done, and that the judging is by God’s hand, and it is too late.

Symbolizing how God feels about this Babylon, a strong angel throws a large, heavy stone, that which looks like a millstone (think of Matt. 18:6, Luke 17:2), into the sea. That stone has the world’s deceit attached, and by causing God’s “little ones” to sin, it deserves to be thrown into the depths of the sea.

Indeed, the nations were deceived, and as a result, the blood of the saints, those believers following Christ, is on their hands. God does not take lightly to such treatment of His own.

SO WHAT…?

So, as irritated as I might become at the antics of corrupt world leaders, or false religion, God has shown me clearly that He will ultimately deal with them. I recall in Jude that I am still to contend for the faith, and so I must press on, while leaving righteous indignation to God.

So, each and every day I must choose whom I will follow. My own desires and the world’s alluring offers, or the path that Christ has paved before me.

REVELATION 17 - Babylon the Great

Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation serve as sort of a pause in the action from chapter 16. That action will resume again in 19:10. Meanwhile John is shown more “big picture” information, to help him understand why this world was under such judgment.

God hates all sin, this we know. And the sin that tends to cause the most grief for Him is that of idolatry, or spiritual adultery. John sees a woman in this vision, with one of the seven bowl judgment angels as his guide. The NASB refers to the woman as a harlot. She is a harlot with whom the kings of the world have committed “acts of immorality. Her “name” is Bablyon”, and previously Babylon was said to have wine that could be consumed. This is a great play on words, and what a great picture this paints. And verse 2 says the kings of the earth have gotten drunk on this wine. By this time, the world, following its leaders, have completely indulged in what Babylon has to offer, and they are drunk and useless as a result. Babylon can be both the city/region in control of the world, and a phrase to describe the world as a whole.

There is a great deal of imagery throughout this chapter. The woman sits upon a beast, she also sits upon many waters. In short, this woman named “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”, has committed fornication with all levels of society. She thrives on spreading her filth and corruption by enticing them to drink from a cup she holds. The cup is beautiful, as is she, and it is completely contaminated. She stands for a worldwide religious system that God will not and does not tolerate. Whether this system is worship of someone else, or the use of “organized religion” to keep people from the true knowledge of God is not clear, but people do and will follow her, because it is easy and enticing to do so.

Not only are her followers “drunk”, she, too is drunk, and drunk with he blood of the saints. It is clear to John that she is directly and actively opposed to God’s people. In verse 7 when John “wonders greatly”, he is astonished, perhaps at the sight of unrestrained wickedness, perhaps that God even allowed this to exist. But his wonder is not the type which entices him to to follow. True believers alive during that time will likely have the same reaction; they may be amazed, but will not want to follow that which is pure evil.

Her seven heads and could be seen as successive world kingdoms, 5 of which perhaps had already been accomplished by the time of John’s writing, and the ten horns is perhaps world kings and/or kingdoms around at the time of the beast. It is clear that there are still some events to be realized, and that Satan will use world powers and entities to accomplish his vast apostasy that John sees here.

If it is of any comfort to John, he hears that the beast will go to destruction. Verse 11 describes him as “which was and is not”. He is “one of the seven” and also “the eighth”, comparing well with what we have learned about antichrist. He will be in power, will suffer a fatal wound, and return fully empowered by Satan, appearing to be resurrected. The world rulers will give their power to him, and they will wage war against the Lamb, or Christ.

We know Christ will win. He is Lord of Lords, He is King of Kings, those with Him are called the faithful. Those following the harlot will end up hating her, and it will be too late. All power in world affairs will be under her control, and those not with Christ will find themselves on the wrong side of the battle. Her false religion will crumble just before it is totally destroyed. She is “the great city”, likely the true Babylon which sits on the Euphrates, the capital of the world at this time, serving as the hub for all things corrupt. When the world eventually becomes so consumed by “her”, they realize she is of no further use to them. She will have accomplished what she set out to do, and that is to steer the masses away from the truth of God.

SO WHAT...?

So, even today, we can certainly enable false religion to survive and thrive. I am thankful to be called one of the faithful, and I realize that places accountability upon me to be just that, faithful to the God of truth.

So, “the Lamb will overcome them”. What a great comfort in the middle of tremendous rebellion against Him. As a believer, I can rest in this knowledge, especially in the middle of my struggles, weaknesses, and trials.

REVELATION 16 - The Bowls of Wrath

The angels with the bowls have been poised to act, and their time has now come, as John sees in this revelation. One by one they unleash the remaining judgments on God’s enemies, and sparing those who have accepted Christ. With these next judgments, there still is no need for allegory. We may not know how God will enforce the judgments, but their effects will be direct and physical, and they will continue to take a psychological toll on the unbelievers who have chosen the side of Satan.

With the pouring out of the first bowl, those who have taken the mark of the beast are afflicted with sores over their bodies.

Bowl number 2 contains judgment to turn the seas to blood, similar to the third bowl, which serves to do likewise to the rivers and springs. The earth’s water, salt and fresh, will be blood after these two bowls.

Intense, scorching solar heat follows the fourth bowl. Imagine having been afflicted with sores, seeing your water sources turn to blood, and then being subjected to inescapable heat from the sun, how might you react, if you believe God is having something to do with all of this? God will be striving for repentance, and yet the people afflicted here will turn to greater blasphemy of Him.

With the fifth bowl, the beast’s kingdom is darkened, literally made extremely dark. It is hard to determine whether this will be localized to that area of “Babylon”, a prophetic region where it is believed the beast will have his power centralized. Regardless, the darkness somehow brings on even more pain and agony. Perhaps the resulting disorientation makes all the previous suffering even worse.

And with the sixth bowl, the Euphrates river is dried up. This appears to be in preparation of the battle to come, removing obstacles to allow mass mobilization of military forces. Demons (frogs) will work in and through world leaders (kings) to rally them to war near Har-Magedon (think Armageddon). Frogs to John’s readers, and even back to Old Testament times, were seen an extremely unclean and abominations. That John sees them come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet is only fitting.

As tensions rise and forces align themselves for battle, the seventh bowl is emptied, with a voice declaring “It is done”. Massive earthquakes occur and 100-pound hail descends on those with the mark of the beast. Those without Christ again resort to blasphemy of God, angry at him for what he is doing.

As world powers join forces, God continues to call out for genuineness in faith. Still, His wrath is fully focused on the center of the world’s power and corruption, on Babylon and the cities of the nations.

SO WHAT...?

So, even we as Christians can tend to wonder what God is up to. We may not blaspheme Him, per se, yet we can easily turn what He may intend to get our attention into frustration toward Him.

So, when I read about the voice saying "it is done", I could not help but think of Christ's words on the cross, "It is finished". Yes, it is, completely. Christ's atoning work inviting all has indeed been accomplished. How have we or how will we respond?

REVELATION 15

Another sign is given to John, and in this vision he sees seven angels, with seven plagues in store for God’s enemies. God’s wrath is culminating. At this point, the seal and trumpet judgments are complete, with the full force of this wrath yet to come.

In verse 3 a song of praise is sung, a prayer set to music, if you will. God’s great name is glorified. Worship Him, is the theme. What plagues the earth at this time is the worship of the beast. The believer’s response to God’s glory should be a worship-filled life.

The angels are girded with golden sashes. This girding is a description of their readiness to act. They are eager to serve, and ready for what God has for them to do.

One of the four creatures we saw chapters ago hands a bowl to each angel, each containing a judgment to be poured out.

Smoke pours from the heavenly temple, reminiscent of the Shekinah in the Old Testament when God’s glory filled the tabernacle and eventually the temple. The smoke is so intense, that the temple here is unapproachable, at least for a short time.

God’s wrath has been smoldering, and it is now about to erupt. The suspense is thick.

SO WHAT…?

So, my response to God’s glory should also be that of a worship-filled life, seeking to please Him.

So, I know I am not to be carrying out any judgment, yet I personally love the readiness to serve on display by the angels. I pray for that eagerness and burden to serve, and I long for the day when I will serve, absent of the presence of sin.

REVELATION 14, Grapes of Wrath

The 144,000 were sealed and protected from God’s wrath, but not necessarily so from the beast and his anger. Since we see the Lamb on Mt. Zion, we can assume that John is getting a glimpse of the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom, when Christ physically returns, along with the saints (including the 144,000).

John hears an angelic choir singing about the joy over the redemption of the saints, knowing that the future reign of Christ and the redeemed is very near. There will never again be another group like the 144,000, specially consecrated to their work for Christ, highlighted by their abstinence and truthfulness.

Verse 6 seems to refer to another angel besides Michael, with the reference and meaning being similar to that type of described angel. His gospel message is clear to all: “Fear God and give Him glory”. Perhaps this angel does not specifically invite people to salvation, but he says just as much by noting the Creator, who is worthy of worship. People are to get the message to repent as a result, as they are enjoying worship of the beast instead.

John then sees the rejection of that message, and the fall of Babylon. Further, the “wine of Babylon” represents all the excess of the wicked living that expresses unfaithfulness toward God. Babylon is likely a reference to a literal city, and the world under its control.

Anyone having the mark of the beast is doomed to meet disaster, both physically and spiritually forever. They will experience the reality of God’s wrath, and the angels send a message of warning to the weak to not defect to worship of the beast, tempting as it will be to do so. The message also serves as an encouragement to the faithful believers to persevere. It will be better to be killed by the beast than to suffer eternally with him. Further, the blessing in verse 13 seems to be on believers executed by the beast.

In verse 14 Christ is seen prevailing, and the angel informs Him that the time for the harvest has come. The harvest of the condemned is described in two separate images here, stressing the severity of the judgment. To sum it up, the earth will be filled with evil fruit that is to be collected. The vineyard must be trampled. (“He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored” – Battle Hymn of the Republic).

There is no easy way to write about such a massive slaughter and loss of human life. John provides some gruesome detail. To make matters more grave, seven bowls of God’s anger awaits.

SO WHAT…?

So, the Tribulation will certainly be a time of testing the faithful. I also face testing daily as a Christian. Choices of obedience to God must be made regularly. What I am in Christ, internally, will guide what I do externally.

So, I think it appropriate to formulate a plan of witnessing around a great statement resulting from this chapter: It will be better to be killed by the beast than to spend eternity with him. Dear friends who are un-saved need to know that the Christian life may not always be fun and games, and it will always be glorious from an eternal perspective.

REVELATION 13:11-18, Three Sixes

Another, lesser beast arises, this time from the earth, not the sea. This beast plays a secondary role to the first beast, as indicated by only having two horns in comparison. His role is primarily that of a religious nature, guiding people to worship of the first beast, the antichrist. This beast has a “Christian” appearance, but it is a fake, a counterfeit, as Satan is using such means to mimic God. This “false prophet” is subtle, and seductive to lure people into the dragon’s trap, as he complements the agenda of the first beast.

He will perform great signs, as he obscures truth and confuses people, who pledge their allegiance for all the wrong reasons. They’ll feel good about doing so, however, unaware of the trap into which they have fallen. This beast has power that far outweighs that of the Egyptian magicians just prior to the Exodus, and he will be very convincing. Jesus actually prophesied of such power and signs to be displayed by the false christs, and here the beast apparently has divine permission to exhibit this power. Once again, remember, this is during a time of great judgment, and God can very well use such means to carry out His justice.

A physical image of the first beast is constructed, calling to mind the image erected by Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3. The image/idol appears to actually speak, and have power to kill those who will not worship its likeness.

Most are familiar with “the mark of the beast”, in some form or another, often fictionalized “Hollywood style”. At some point after the sealing of believers, in chapter 7, the antichrist will drive loyalty by enforcing the issuance and reception of a unique identification, on a person’s hand or forehead. Most believe this to be some sort of branding, such as was common to soldiers, slaves, and people whose work involved devotion to the temple. Then, it will become necessary to display this mark of loyalty to the beast in order to conduct commerce, even to buy life essentials such as food. Receiving the mark and worship of the beast/dragon are directly connected and inseparable.

Much is also made about the number at the end of this chapter, the triple sixes, or “666”. Some believe this to be symbolic of an unholy trinity (Satan, antichrist, false prophet), since “6” is incomplete, and short of “7” which is considered a “perfect”, divine number, symbolic of divinity. Others believe that the mark itself will be three sixes. Many theories also abound that this number was fulfilled by some evil historic figure. Speculation runs rampant, and this makes for good books. A closer look at John’s writing should make this issue a bit clearer.

John says the one who has understanding should “calculate”, or “count” to arrive at the number. Given that this is to happen during the Tribulation, is would appear that believers would be able to figure out the number, that is, it will be obvious to them who the players are in opposition to Christ. The antichrist will be known to be so by believers. The primary meaning then is that calculating a number will be a help to Christians during that time, so that they can clearly identify the antichrist and his team.

A large amount of curiosity for us is normal, yet the number is meant to be recognizable to believers then. Thus, speculation on our part in our time is not helpful or very profitable. The “calculating” will make more sense when antichrist actually appears on the scene. Make sense? If not, it’s OK, it will.

SO WHAT…?

So, how eagerly, perhaps blindly, do I follow what simply feels good or is easiest?

So, it’s fun to speculate and predict, to look for “signs” today. Yet, more important is to follow the Lord as what He has for me to do for Him. Eternity will provide the time to figure out all the prophecies.

So, I can take comfort that God is watching out for me now. If He will do so for those in the midst of the Tribulation, surely I can rest in His joy now.

REVELATION 13:1-10, The Beast

Satan, the dragon, now seeks to carry out his war against the followers of Christ, and he will use people to do so. The main player through the second half of the Tribulation will be the false christ, the antichrist, here depicted as the beast. He will rule the final world empire.

He has ten horns, seven heads, and there are crowns on the horns. The horns would seem to be “kings” or major rulers aiding Satan during this time. They will be ruling at the same time. The heads, however, appear to be successive rulers (in chapter 17, one head at a time is on the beast), and the seventh head appears to have been fatally wounded at one time. Verses 12 and 14 equate this head with the whole beast.

In line with visions in Daniel, blasphemy of God will be magnified by this beast. Given that the dragon, Satan, is the source of the beast’s power and authority, what else would one expect?

Satan seeks to mimic Christ as he fools the world. The false christ requires a sign on the forehead or hand, just as Christ sealed believers with a sign on the forehead. Both have swords, both are slain, and both rise to new life and authority (how God allows the antichrist to be raised is unknown. Is Satan granted that power, or is this an amazing deception by Satan?). Both claim power over the whole world. Only one will be around eternally in heaven, as we will discover later. The dragon’s attempt to counterfeit Christ’s death and resurrection is shown in the slain head of the beast which will appear as a miraculous resurrection.

The wonder of the people evolves into their worship of the beast, which is worship of the dragon. In Daniel 7 and 12 the little horn blasphemes God and seduces mankind. He diverts attention from God, and directs it toward civil power. Antichrist’s physical reign on the earth will be one of political and civil power. He will dominate the same people for whom Christ died and rose again.

As hard as it might be to understand, God shows His sovereignty over world governments and powers. The antichrist is “allowed” to do what he does for these 42 months. Remember, this is a time of judgment of the enemies of God, in addition to God’s reclamation of His people Israel. God can and will use whatever means He chooses to carry out His justice.

People have always opposed Christ, and I would argue that it is even more fashionable to do so now. In the Tribulation period, people will be even more enthusiastic in opposing Christ, and they will just as eagerly worship the beast and dragon during this period of time.

Finally, the Book of Life described here can spur disagreement among believers. One author (Thomas) believes this to show that all names are originally in this book, and some are then subsequently removed when those people die in an un-regenerated, unsaved state. Others believe the names are added as people get saved. Since the book appears to be present before God before the foundations of the world, I would side with the first option. Otherwise, as I see it, we end up with predestination ideas where God decided before creation those who would and would not get saved.

What is known from this part of this chapter is that the beast will indeed have some victory over the saints in this period. Thankfully, their defeat is momentary, as they are then transferred to glory to be with Christ forever.

SO WHAT…?

So, it is very easy to think we are so near the end of time as we know it, just by observing the world around us. Maybe we are, maybe not. Regardless, people still desperately need the gospel, and we need to tell them.

So, I am thankful to know my name is written in that Book, “written down in Glory…bound for heaven, never more to roam”.

So, I rest in the assurance that this world, its workings, and the plans for all of eternity are safely in the hands of Almighty God.

REVELATION 12, A woman, a dragon, a child, a war

So why all the wrath? Why so much judgment? Well, for answers we can begin by looking at Revelation 12. A holy and just God must punish the unrepentant. Here we will have to try to assign meanings or people to symbols, since the chapter starts with John seeing a “sign”, a clear indication of symbolism used. Stay with me, we are still reading the Bible literally, looking for literal meaning. Think of a thick blue line on a map, how it “means” or “represents” an interstate highway. I can then look at a map, see a number 95 on a thick blue line, and know that it literally means interstate 95.

This chapter is a sort of parenthesis, a pause in the action, giving us an opportunity to look back at how we got to this point.

The woman is national Israel, and the moon would refer to Jacob’s wife, Rachel, the mother of Joseph. Genesis 37 is the image presented here (one of Joseph’s dreams). The twelve stars represent Israel’s tribes. The woman in this vision is about to give birth.

The great dragon is Satan, and his seven heads may represent consecutive world empires, with one of the horns on the seventh head referring to Daniel 7:24, Daniel’s vision involving the anti-Christ. The stars swept from heaven would seem to be fallen angels who followed Satan. His fall led to his deception of Adam and Eve, resulting in sin entering the human race. Satan awaits the birth from the woman, so as to devour the child, knowing this child is the One who can right the wrongs of man, the only hope of redemption for the fallen world.

The male child born from national Israel is Christ. Though Satan tried, he could not defeat or get rid of this child. He may have thought he did when Jesus was crucified, but we know better, and so does Satan.

Fast forward now to the midpoint of the tribulation. Reminiscent of Daniel 12, there is a great war in heaven, Satan and his angels vs. Michael and God’s. Side note, some believe this to mean that Satan and Michael are very similar beings. The winner? Michael. The cost to Satan for losing? No more access to heaven. Scripture teaches us that there is one who accuses believers before God, that being Satan (Job 1, Gen. 3, Zech. 3:1, and here in Rev. 12:12). And so it appears that during the second half of the Tribulation, he is banished to earth, no longer able to accuse in heaven.

Believers overcome him with faith in Jesus. In his anger, Satan attacks the woman, the now-supernaturally protected Israel, but “she” is delivered by God. In his attack on her, God uses the earth, nature in some way, to protect her. In his frustration, he can only now go after “the rest of her children”, possibly some who did not physically make it to the literal place of escape, or possibly the 144,000 who were sealed. Satan makes war now with those who are loyal to Christ. Daniel saw this, too, more than 2500 years ago, as depicted in Daniel 7.

SO WHAT…?

So, as the people here rejoice in the blood of the Lamb, I likewise rejoice in Romans 8:34. Christ is right there, interceding for me, while Satan continues to accuse me.

So, Satan, along with my own fleshly temptations, looks to cause me to stumble. James 4:7 tells me to resist him, and he will flee. Simple, not easy.

So, it’s worth repeating. The Tribulation is no place to desire to be. The day of salvation is today, the time is now.

REVELATION 11:15-19

Five verses here, packed with excitement and anticipation. The seventh angel sounds its trumpet, and the reign of Christ is declared forever!

God’s eternal kingdom will be forever, for eternity, and yet it will start literally on earth, with Christ on the throne. In response to hearing the trumpet, and the declaration of the kingdom, the 24 elders follow suit with worship. The fall on their faces and tell God just how great He is, and by their actions show how unworthy they are. Humbly subject to God.

Verse 17 begins a prayer of thanksgiving to God, and though this prayer fits a specific happening, the pattern is such that we would do well to follow. Those in prayer recognize God’s almighty power, and pay homage to Him reigning. His holy justice is acknowledged as are His promises of reward to His people. Just as He has promised heavenly reward, so He has also promised His wrath to those who do not accept His Son.

And then, as if in response to the prayers, God opens up the heavenly temple, and there sits the ark of the covenant. Whether or not it will literally be there will have to remain to be seen. The original ark in the Jerusalem temple disappeared after the city fell to Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. Some believe it was destroyed, others believe it was taken and hidden in the region of Alexandria. Still others believe it was taken and hidden at Mt. Sinai by Jeremiah, only to be returned or revealed when God would again establish His temple.

John’s believing readers would immediately recognize God in His temple with the ark as a complete picture of Him reigning eternal. The ark was where God was, in the holy of holies, and where only the high priest could go, nationally representing each person’s individual faith. Christ came to rule the hearts of individuals, inviting all to come to the Father through Him. God shows that His kingdom, His temple is ready for all who will come.

Following this awesome display by God are thunder and lightning, and earthquake and a hailstorm. It reminds me of something out of a sci-fi movie, but this is God’s power on display. How will the unbeliever respond? How should we?

SO WHAT…?

So, I get to read of God’s promises, of His justice, of His wrath. I should therefore present my life humbly before Him in worship, in recognition of just how great He is, though I can scarcely comprehend that.

So, God is very serious about getting our attention, about calling the lost to Him to believe. Often, I fail to sense the urgency of my part in being a witness for Him, and I need to step it up.

So, I also pray that my regular, corporate worship to Him shows Him that I recognize my proper and humble place before Him. It’s about Him, not me.