The Pride Of Man.

Genesis 10-11

Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies – a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world. – Genesis 11:4 NLT

Chapter ten chronicles the multiplication of Noah's descendants after the flood. We are given a genealogical record of the offspring of Ham, Shem, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. From these three men "the nations were separated on the earth after the flood" (Genesis 10:32 NASB) – which was in keeping with God's command given to Noah and his sons immediately after the flood: "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1 NIV). From all indications, they were doing just that. They were multiplying and filling the earth. But chapter 11 presents an interesting parenthesis in the story. In the midst of all the multiplying it seems that mankind decided to take matters into its own hands – literally. Rather than honor God by obediently filling the earth, they decided to stay in one spot, build a great city, and bring glory and honor to themselves. There seems to be nothing inherently wrong with them building a city. But there WAS something wrong in the motive behind it. They wanted to make a name for themselves. That phrase in the Hebrew has to do with reputation, fame, and glory. In other words, they wanted to do something that would make them famous. Not only that, but they wanted to build "a tower whose top will reach into heaven." This wasn't going to be just any tower, but a tower that would form as a link into heaven – the very dwelling place of God. Their ambition was great, and so was their pride. Their intent was evil. Matthew Henry has this to say about these people in his commentary:

It seems designed for an affront to God himself; for they would build a tower whose top might reach to heaven, which bespeaks a defiance of God, or at least a rivalship with him. They would be like the Most High, or would come as near him as they could, not in holiness but in height. They forgot their place, and, scorning to creep on the earth, resolved to climb to heaven, not by the door or ladder, but some other way. They hoped hereby to make themselves a name; they would do something to be talked of now, and to give posterity to know that there had been such men as they in the world. Rather than die and leave no memorandum behind them, they would leave this monument of their pride, and ambition, and folly. – Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible

To this day, mankind has a propensity to try and be like god. We want to be famous. We want to achieve. We want to accomplish great things. Not that there is anything necessarily wrong with ambition or achievement. But when we allow what we can do, either individually or collectively, to become a means by which we defy God or attempt to replace God in our lives, we are walking on very thin ice. God had told Noah and his sons to multiply and fill the earth, not build monuments to their own ingenuity and creativity. God had not put men on the earth to make themselves famous, but to make Him famous. This was never meant to be about us, but about Him. But we are always trying to make it about us. Each of us spends a great deal of time trying to build a "tower whose top will reach into heaven." We want to be noticed. We want to experience some degree of fame. Just look at all the reality TV shows that have become so popular. Everyone seems to want to be a celebrity of some sort. Achievement has become a fixation. Our own glory has become more important than God's. We worry more about what others think of us, than Him.

Spared by God from the destruction He brought on the entire earth, the descendants of Noah soon forgot about the grace they had received from God and became obsessed with their own plan for power, prominence, and position. But God will not be mocked. He will not be disobeyed. He will not share His glory with anyone. So He came down and threw a monkey-wrench into their plans. Now, instead of them enjoying the convenience of a common language, they would find themselves speaking a variety of confusing tongues. "In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city" (Genesis 11:8 NLT). Construction stopped. But sadly, the rebellion didn't. To this day we see that men have never really stopped trying to build their tower to heaven. Pride is a powerful thing. Power is an intoxicating thing. Man is always trying to build a monument to his own greatness. But in the end, God will be the only one to receive glory.

Father, You alone deserve glory and honor. You created us. You sustain us. You spare us from Your divine judgment every day. But we somehow think that we are greater than we really are. We read our own press clippings and buy into the idea that we are really something special. But without You we are nothing. Our power is pitiful. Our achievements are miniscule. But our pride is immeasurable. Forgive us for attempting to build towers to heaven. Forgive me for trying to make myself famous, when only You deserve fame and glory.  Amen

Remnant...Delivered.

Genesis 8-9

By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. – Genesis 8:13 NIV

Paradise was destroyed. Eden was no more. The earth as it had been made by God was now radically different. God, as a result of His justice and holiness, had been forced to destroy His own creation. Yet in His grace and mercy, God had spared a small remnant of His creation. Two of every kind of creature and the family of His servant Noah. For over a year Noah, his family, and a menagerie of assorted birds, animals, and creatures, lived in the confines of the ark he had made while the rest of the world perished in a world-wide flood of epic proportions. They had been spared from God's wrath by God's own plan. Noah didn't come up with the idea for the ark, God did. It was built according to God's design, not Noah's. Noah had never even seen a lake, let alone a boat! And it was God who sealed them in to the ark, closing the door behind them (Genesis 7:16).

God delivered them from His own wrath. He provided a way of escape that they could never have dreamed of or provided on their own. He spared them from destruction and allowed them to experience a new life. There are so many parallels to our own salvation story. We too were destined to die. But God reached down and chose to save us. He made us part of a remnant, a small group whom He would spare from His wrath. Then He provided a way of escape that we could never have come up with on our own. He gave His own Son to die in our place. All so that we might have new life. But there are also a lot of dissimilarities in this story. Unlike our salvation, Noah's would not result in eternal life. He stepped out of the ark to find a radically different world than the one he had left, but it was not idyllic and heavenly. In fact, he would find it to be hostile and still prone to the effects of sin, because the ark didn't transform his sons into saints – it only delivered them from death and destruction. So within just a days of disembarking from the ark, sin would raise its ugly head again. Noah would get drunk, fall asleep naked in his tend, and his own son, Ham, would walk in and find him that less-than-flattering state. Ham shames his father even further by telling his brothers about his father's condition – probably in a condescending and disrespectful manner. As a result of his actions, Ham's descendants would be cursed by God. The impact of this curse would be far-reaching because the Canaanites would go on to be a proverbial thorn in the flesh of the Israelites for generations.

Yet, God had spared Noah. And Noah's response was to build an altar to his God and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving for the deliverance He had provide. And God responded by making a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature. "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11 NIV). God knew that mankind had not changed. He knew that the world had been destroyed, but not the reign of sin. He knew that men would continue to live in open rebellion to Him, and that further destruction would be both just and right. But He chose to show grace and mercy by making a covenant never to destroy mankind in that way ever again.

The particular intention of this covenant. It was designed to secure the world from another deluge: There shall not any more be a flood. God had drowned the world once, and still it was as filthy and provoking as ever, and God foresaw the wickedness of it, and yet promised he would never drown it any more; for he deals not with us according to our sins. It is owing to God’s goodness and faithfulness, not to any reformation of the world, that it has not often been deluged and that it is not deluged now. As the old world was ruined to be a monument of justice, so this world remains to this day, a monument of mercy, according to the oath of God, that the waters of Noah should no more return to cover the earth, Isa. 54:9. This promise of God keeps the sea and clouds in their decreed place, and sets them gates and bars; hitherto they shall come, Job 38:10, 11. If the sea should flow but for a few days, as it does twice every day for a few hours, what desolation would it make! And how destructive would the clouds be, if such showers as we have sometimes seen were continued long! But God, by flowing seas and sweeping rains, shows what he could do in wrath; and yet, by preserving the earth from being deluged between both, shows what he can do in mercy and will do in truth. Let us give him the glory of his mercy in promising and of his truth in performing. – Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible

God spared Noah. He has also spared those who have place their faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Those of us who have stepped into the "ark" of faith in Christ have been assured of our eternal security. We will never face destruction at the hand of a holy and righteous God. Yet we still sin. We rebel against the rule of God in our lives daily. But God is faithful to keep His covenant with us. He will not go back on His commitment to keep us, protect us, and deliver us. Every day we live in the unbelievable shadow of His mercy and grace. We live because Jesus died, not because we deserve to live. We enjoy life in the presence of God because Jesus gave His own life on our behalf. We have been graciously spared. So let us honor the One who made it possible.

Father, like Noah, I live because You spared me, not because I deserved to live. I live because You provided a way of escape. You placed me in the ark of Your Son and rescued me from destruction. I didn't earn it or deserve it. It was a gift of Your matchless grace. And even though I still sin against You each day, Your covenant with me is unbreakable because You are totally faithful. Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  Amen

Fellowship...Maintained.

Genesis 6-7

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him. – Genesis 6:9 NLT

Yesterday we saw how quickly the world degenerated once sin entered the picture. Cain killed his brother, is banned from the garden, and loses his fellowship with God. Men began multiplying, having children after their own kind. In other words, the sin nature of Adam was spread from one generation to the next. And chapter six lets us know that things were getting worse, not better. Even the descendants of Seth, who at least called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), had determined to intermarry with the ungodly descendants of Cain and others who were in open rebellion to God in those days (Genesis 6:1-2). I don't think the opening verses of chapter six are referring to fallen angels coming to earth to have sex with human beings because angels do not procreate. Instead, I believe that we are being told that the influence of the ungodly is becoming so great that they are contaminating the human race to such a degree that few, if any, are left who truly know and serve God. In fact, it is so bad that we are told, "The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5 NASB). It had gotten so bad so quickly, that God determined to destroy mankind, retaining a godly remnant.

Only one man found favor in God's eyes – Noah. "But Noah found favor with the LORD ... Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him" (Genesis 6:8-9 NLT). In the midst of all the sin and rebellion, one man had maintained his walk with God. The New American Standard translates verse 9 as follows: "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God." He walked with God. That word "walked" carries with the idea of intimacy. It is a picture of Noah "rubbing shoulders" with God. Somehow he had managed to stay faithful to God in spite of being surrounded by a generation of individuals who walked in complete isolation and independence from God. We are told that Noah was blameless. That is the Hebrew word tamim (8549) and it means "complete, blameless."  This word pertains to something that is completely intact, free from blemishes or defects. Often the focus is on moral goodness, being guiltless and thus not liable for sin. It was often used to describe an animal that was suitable for sacrifice. So Noah was a man of moral goodness and uprightness. He had kept himself pure. This is not saying he was without sin or morally perfect, but that he was faithful to God. This is not about Noah's righteousness, but God's grace in the midst of sin. God chose Noah, not based on his merit, but as an expression of His own grace. One commentary puts it this way:

"The grace he found was not on account of his own merit, but on account of the mercy of God: and this shows that he was not without sin, or he would have stood in no need of the mercy and grace of God to save him; and as he found grace and favour in things spiritual, so in things temporal; he found favour with God, and therefore he and his family were spared, when the whole world of the ungodly were destroyed; he found favour with God, and therefore was directed by him to build an ark, for the saving of himself and his; he found favour with him, and therefore he had the honour of being the preserver of mankind, and the father of a new world." – The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible

The story of Noah is a story of God's grace and mercy in the midst of man's sin and rebellion. Noah found favor in God's eyes. God looked down and showed kindness and mercy to Noah and his family. In fact, the Hebrew expression “find favor [in the eyes of]” is an idiom meaning “to be an object of another’s favorable disposition or action,” “to be a recipient of another’s favor, kindness, mercy.” God showered His goodness and kindness of Noah. But we can't ignore the fact, that while Noah did not deserve the grace of God, he had maintained his walk with God. He had stayed faithful to God in very difficult surroundings. It is possible for us as believers in God and followers of Christ to walk with God – regardless of how bad things may appear around us. We can and should maintain our fellowship with the Father even though everyone around us walks away from Him. Noah lived in corrupt and violent times (Genesis 6:11-12). So do we. Noah was surrounded by men who had rejected God and lived according to their own wills and desires. We find ourselves in the same position. But Noah walked with God. And so should we.

Father, forgive me for NOT walking with You as much as I should. I find it so easily to become distracted by the things of this world and start walking away from You. But I want to walk with You. I want to experience daily intimacy with You. I want to grow in my knowledge of and love for You. And there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to, because Your Spirit lives within me. So please continue to show me how to walk in truth and righteousness, integrity and moral faithfulness – even in the midst of all the sin that surrounds me.  Amen

Fellowship...Destroyed.

Genesis 4-5

So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. – Genesis 4:16 NIV

Once sin entered the picture, it didn't take long for things to start going bad. Chapter four opens with the births of Cain and Abel. While painful experiences, like most childbirths, these would have been joyous occasions. But the joy didn't last long. Cain and Abel grew up and so did their sin natures. Over in chapter five we are told that Adam's sons were born "in his own likeness" (Revelation 5:3). Unlike their father Adam, who was made in the likeness of God, Cain and Abel were born in the likeness of their sinful father. They inherited his propensity to sin. So it is not surprising that eventually that nature raised its ugly head. And it came about in a surprising way. All in regards to a sacrifice made to the Lord. We are not told that this was a requirement that God had made. Nowhere in the passage does it indicate that God had commanded sacrifices to be made to Him. But both Cain and Abel bring a sacrifice to God. Cain, being a farmer or cultivator of the fields, brought an offering from the fruit of the ground. Abel, a shepherd, brought an animal sacrifice. Again, we are not told that God had required a sacrifice at all, let alone a particular type of sacrifice. The issue seems to be in regards to the manner in which the sacrifice was brought. In Hebrews we are given a little bit of insight into what was going on: "It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel’s offering to show that he was a righteous man" (Hebrews 11:4 NLT). So this seems to be less about the kind of offering than the faith of the one who brought it. Verse 4 of chapter four indicates that Abel brought as his offering the first-born among the flock. He gave to God the very first of his flock. But their is no indication that Cain did the same. Some believe that Cain gave God from the leftovers. To give God the first of your flock or produce is an act of faith. You are having to trust God to provide from what is left over. To satisfy yourself first, then give God from what is left is NOT an act of faith. It is a reflection of a lack of faith in God. You doubt that He can provide, so you horde and hide from Him what is best. That seems to be what happened here.

But the result of it all is that Cain's sacrifice is not regarded or looked upon with favor by God, and Cain is furious. So much so that he becomes jealous of his brother and murders him. In just a short period of time, the sin of man goes from simple disobedience to the commands of God to murder. The downward spiral had begun. And it all began in the heart of Cain. Long before he murdered Abel, Cain began to show signs of sin's effect. He was selfish toward God. He suffered from anger, depression, and jealousy. God even questioned him about it. "'Why are you so angry?' the LORD asked him. 'Why do you look so dejected?'" (Genesis 4:6 NLT). Then God gave him the remedy to his situation. God may have rejected Cain's sacrifice, but He had not rejected Cain. He tells him, "You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it" (Genesis 4:7 NLT). God was out to teach Cain a valuable lesson through this circumstance, but he had to respond in the right way. He had to learn from his mistake. This had less to do about the sacrifice than about Cain's attitude. God warned Cain that sin was out to get him. And it would get the best of him. He was going to lose the battle with sin if he did not respond to God in the right way. And that is true for all of us today. In every circumstance of life God has lessons He wants to teach us. But we must respond in the right way. We must come to Him in faith, humbly asking Him to show us what He has to teach us. If we refuse, sin will raise its ugly head, and we will end up responding in anger, bitterness, resentment, hate, and yes, even murder at times.

As a result of Cain's actions, he is banned from God's presence. Verse 16 is probably one of the saddest statements in the entire Bible: "So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence..." (Genesis 4:16 NIV). No longer would he enjoy the beauty of Eden and the fellowship of God. His sin had destroyed all that. He found himself wandering and wondering what would happen to him. And that is the lot of all men who live in rebellion against God. We may build cities. We may attempt to build stable lives. But in the end, we will wander and wonder what is going to happen to us. We live lives filled with fear about the future. We are constantly looking back over our shoulder, wondering and worrying about the future. All peace is gone because God's presence is missing. And that same thing can happen to us as believers. Sin can still separate us from God. He never leaves us, but we can still experience a sense of distance from Him when we allow sin to reign in our lives. We tend to run and hide from Him when we sin. We are embarrassed, so we distance ourselves from Him. But God is still calling out to us as He did to Cain. "You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it" (Genesis 4:7 NLT). So how will you respond? In the right way or the wrong way? In faith or fear?

Father, I know sin crouches at the door, ready to pounce on me at any moment. I also know that I tend to respond to my circumstances in the wrong way. I fail to see You in them. I fail to allow You to teach me through them. Instead, I get angry and take matters into my own hands. I try to solve my problem in my own way, and it always leads to greater degrees of sin, not a solution. Help me to trust You more. Help me to see You more clearly in every circumstance of life. Because You are faithful. Amen

Paradise…Lost.

Genesis 2-3

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. – Genesis 3:8 NET

These two chapters are filled with sadness. In the midst of all the beauty that God has created, all the good things He has spoken into being, a dark cloud forms. It is the shadow of the fall. Man, created in the likeness of God, rebels against the very one who created him. Formed by the very hand of God and given life by the very breath of God, man turns and chooses to listen to the lies of the enemy. The first man and woman found themselves living in a perfect environment enjoying unbroken fellowship with God Himself. Their surroundings were beautiful. Their joy was complete. They had no taxes to pay, no neighbors to argue with, no stress, no media, no time constraints, no schedules to keep, or kids to worry about. They had it all. Including a capacity to sin. Because even in the midst of all this perfection, they managed to find a way to become dissatisfied with their lot in life. They found something they DIDN'T have in spite of all they DID have. And it seems to be associated with the one law or command that God gave them. He told them, "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17 NLT). This was a command. It was non-negotiable. It was the one law they had to obey in order to live in the garden and to continue to enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. But there seems to be something about laws that cause all men to rebel. We are law-breakers by nature. We seem incapable of keeping any laws – even one.

The enemy knows our weakness when it comes to law keeping. And he knew Adam and Eve struggled with the same thing. I believe that as soon as God commanded them not to eat from that one tree, they both began to question in their heart what it would be like to eat from that tree. They began to think about it and consider it. The temptation began in their hearts long before Satan showed up on the scene. James makes this quite clear: "The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer" (James 1:14-15 MSG). Their problem was not the tree, the enemy, or the fruit. It was their hearts. All Satan did was fan the flame of desire that was smoldering there. He did it by questioning the trustworthiness of God. He sowed seeds of doubt into their hearts and minds regarding the word of God. And they bit – literally.

Eve saw that the tree was good for food. But this wasn't about food. She had every other tree in the garden to eat from. She saw something she knew she couldn't have, and she desired it. She began to lust after it. It was a delight to the eyes. It appealed to her senses. And on top of that, it could make her wise, like God. It appealed to her vanity and pride. But isn't that what all temptation does? It appeals to our basic instincts and senses. It promises to improve our life or enhance our well-being. It even whispers that we will be a little bit wiser if we give in. But the result is always the same: Disappointment. Because all temptation is a bait and switch. It promises something it can never deliver. But we consistently seem to give in – even thought we've bought the lie a thousand times before.

And when we give in to the temptation, the result is always shame and guilt. Innocence is lost. And that is what happened in the garden that fateful day. Their eyes were opened. But not in a good way. They saw their shame and guilt. Their eyes were open and, for the first time, they saw that they were naked. "t that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness" (Genesis 3:7 NLT). Instead of enjoying the presence of God, they hid from Him. Adam had new feelings he had never had before. He told God, "I heard you, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked" (Genesis 3:10 NLT). Shame, fear, and guilt always lead to an attempt to cover up and hide ourselves from God. We grow distant. We attempt to run from the very one who made us and can help us. We try to cover our sin by our own efforts – the way Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin with leaves. But it didn't work. It never works.

Sin entered the world that day. With it came shame and guilt. And they're alive and well today. The scenarios and the scenes are different, but the results are always the same. We see something we know we are not to have. We begin to lust after it. We begin to question God's wisdom in denying the pleasure of it. We rationalize that this one thing can give us what God never intended for it to provide. Then we give in to our internal desires and disobey the word of God. We buy the lie and suffer the consequences. And the consequences of sin are always the same: shame, guilt, a loss of innocence and broken fellowship with God. But thankfully for us, we can restore our relationship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. We can confess our sins and He will faithfully forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We can have our fellowship restored. We can have our shame and guilt removed. All because of what Jesus Christ, the second Adam, did on the cross.

Father, I don't know why we hate Your commands so much, but we do. We can't seem to obey You to save our lives – literally. But You came up with a better plan that trying to rely on us, and that was Your Son giving His life as a payment for our sins. He DID obey, perfectly. He didn't give in to temptation, but instead obeyed Your commands – all of them. He did what Adam, or any other human being, couldn't do. He obeyed, and as a result, we can enjoy restored fellowship with You. Our sins are forgiven. Our shame and guilt are done away with. Thank You! Amen

Then God Said…

Genesis 1

Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. – Psalms 33:8-9 NLT

Eight times in this opening chapter of the Old Testament we see the phrase, "Then God said…" With the power of His spoken word alone, God brought into existence all that we exists. He spoke and the sun, moon, and stars were immediately formed. He spoke and light miraculously broke through the darkness. He spoke and the heavens were formed. He spoke and the land and seas suddenly separated and took their proper places. He spoke and vegetation filled the earth. He spoke and fish filled the seas and birds filled the sky. He spoke and the land was filled with animals, reptiles, and insects of all kinds. He spoke and man…

It's interesting to note that this last time we are told that God spoke, rather than man immediately appearing, God simply states His intent to make man. This time it was going to be different. God did not speak man into existence. He formed Him. We will see that more clearly in chapter two. But when it comes to everything else, God simply spoke and His command resulted in the immediate formation of the universe. God's word is powerful and efficacious (capable of having the desired result or effect; effective as a means, measure, remedy, etc.). He speaks and things happen. He speaks and stars come into existence. He speaks and entire seas and land masses form. Yet, so often He speaks and I fail to listen. His word lacks power too often in my life. He speaks and I ignore. He speaks and I argue. He speaks and I refuse to obey.

Genesis sets up the power of God's word. It shows us that we worship a God whose very speech is packed with power and authority. He just needs to open His mouth and incredible things happen. Yet we fail to honor and respect His word. We fail to obey it or revere it. We don't stand in awe of it. The Net Bible has this to stay about the power of God's word. "By speaking, God brings the world into existence. The efficacious nature of the word of the Lord is a prominent theme in this chapter. It introduces the Law, the words and commandments from the Lord that must be obeyed. The ten decrees of God in this chapter anticipate the ten words in the Decalogue (Exodus 20:2-17)." When God speaks, we should listen. And He has spoken to us – through His prophets, His apostles, His Son, and His written word. He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit. He is not silent. He speaks loud and clear. But are we listening? Do you know what He is saying to you today? Do His words have power? Do they carry authority with you? The One who spoke the universe into existence wants to speak into your life today. Will you let Him?

Father, Your very word carries power with it. With just a word you could eliminate all You made. With a single word, You could destroy what men have spent decades building. Your word packs a punch. But I do not always listen to what You have to say. I don't always obey what I hear You say. And for that I ask Your forgiveness. I am hard of hearing too much of the time. I have selective hearing the rest of the time. I want to hear You and obey You more. May I learn to stand in awe of Your word this year. Amen

Come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. – Revelation 22:20 NIV

When I was growing up as a kid, I heard my father say this phrase repeatedly, "Yes, Lord Jesus, come!" I never knew where he got it from until years later. But I did know it was a phrase I was not eager to make my own. In fact, every time I heard him say it, I would silently pray, "Not yet, Lord Jesus, not yet!" You see, I was young and I had a lot of living I wanted to do. The thought of Jesus coming before I had a chance to grow up and experience all life had to offer was not exactly attractive to me. Even as I got older I was not eager for the Lord to return. But as I have matured and experienced "all life has to offer," I have found myself praying the prayer my father has prayed all these years: "Yes, Lord Jesus, come!" The Scriptures talk about creation groaning in anticipation of Christ's return and God's restoration of all things.

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. – Romans 8:22-23 NLT

I really do find myself groaning, wanting to be released from the pain and suffering around me. As I talk with young couples whose marriages are on the verge of disintegration, as I see loved ones and friends dying from cancer or struggling with disease, as I watch the rapid moral decline of an entire generation, I can't help but long for the Lord to return. This world is not my home. What we see happening all around us is a distortion of what God intended. This is abnormal and, as believers, we know that we are out of place in this environment. Sure, there are times I love this world and all the toys, treasures, and pleasure it offers, but they are little more than smoke and mirrors designed to take my mind off the future reality that God has in store for me. The entire book of Revelation is about the future. It is about what is to come. And what is to come is the restoration of all things to their proper, God-inspired, righteous state.

We have heard over and over again as we have read through Revelation that the day is coming when there will be no more sorrow or pain, no more tears or weeping, no more disease, sickness, sin or sadness. Verse 3 of this chapter tells us there will no longer be any curse (Revelation 22:3). It will be a time of abundance, blessing, joy, peace, and prosperity. We will live in the presence of God – uninterrupted by sin and its influence. All that we long for now will be fulfilled. Everything we were created to enjoy and experience will become a reality. We can't even begin to understand what that day will be like. But we do know this: None of it will take place until the Lord returns. Until that day we will continue to groan and long for the promise to be fulfilled. So the older I get the more I find myself saying, "Yes, Lord Jesus, come!" I am ready.

Father, I become increasingly disenchanted with this world the longer I live in it. While there is much I enjoy about it, there is a lot that saddens me and disappoints me. It is broken. It is filled with the effects of sin and the influence of Satan. Any joy we experience here is an incomplete joy. Any peace we experience here is short-lived. Any prosperity we experience is fleeting and hollow. But the day is coming when we will live in the midst of perfect righteousness, surrounded by the Light of the Lamb and enjoying the constant outpouring of Your blessings. I long for that day. I long for Your Son's return. May I fall increasingly out of love with this world and more in love with the idea of His return. Yes, Lord Jesus, come! Amen

It Is Done!

Revelation 21

He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." – Revelation 21:6 NIV

We are getting close to the end. One more chapter to go and we will have finished reading and journaling through the entire New Testament this year. And as we come to the end of the book of Revelation, we are reminded that we are one day closer to the end of all things as we know them. A day is going to come when God is able to say, "It is done!" He will complete the plan He has had in place from eternity past. And chapter 21 gives us a glimpse of what that day will look like. In it John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The old world will have passed away. God will evidently destroy the first creation in order to cleanse it from all the effects of sin. Then He will replace it with a new heaven and a new earth. Over in 2 Peter 3:12-13 we read, "…the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to the promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

There will be a newness to everything. "And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new'" (Revelation 21:5 NASB). There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and a new Jerusalem. This new Jerusalem is the church of God in its new and perfect state. This heavenly city, which will descend from heaven and be suspended over the earth during the Millennium, will be the place where all the saints live both during the 1,000 year reign of Christ and for eternity. God and His Son Jesus Christ will dwell there with the people of God. "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever" (Revelation 21:3-4 NLT).

No more sorrow, no more death, no more crying and pain. All things will be new. The old will have passed away, including all evil. In his commentary on Revelation, Matthew Henry says it this way: "All the effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have been often before in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the calamities of the church; but now all tears shall be wiped away; no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain, any further than to make their present felicity the greater. God himself, as their tender Father, with his own kind hand, shall wipe away the tears of his children; and they would not have been without those tears when God shall come and wipe them away. All the causes of future sorrow shall be for ever removed: There shall be neither death nor pain; and therefore no sorrow nor crying; these are things incident to that state in which they were before, but now all former things have passed away."

Surrounded by the pain and sorrow that so often makes up this world, it is hard to imagine what this will all be like, but I am looking forward to it! We must remind ourselves that a day is coming when all this will be done away with. We will live in the presence of God and in the light of His glory. There will be no more sin and sorrow. Instead we will have perfect fellowship with God and with His Son. What a day that will be!

Father, thanks for reminding me that Your plan is being worked out in perfection even as I write this sentence. You are in complete control and one day You are going to bring all this to a close. You will say, "It is done!" And we will enjoy eternal life in Your presence. Help me to keep this thought in my mind in the midst of all the suffering and sorrow that surrounds me in this life. It will all someday pass away. Amen

The Millennium!

Revelation 20

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. – Revelation 20:4 NLT

No, the Millennium is not the name of a space ship from a Star Wars movie. It is the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ that will take place here on the earth the end of the 7 years of tribulation. For 1,000 years Christ will reign in Jerusalem and it will be a time of great peace and prosperity. Satan will have been defeated and confined for the entire 1,000 time period. Righteousness will flourish unhindered. It will be a time of unprecedented peace (Isaiah 2:4). Everything on earth will flourish (Isaiah 35:1-2) because Christ will be on the throne.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD––his name alone will be worshiped. – Zechariah 14:9 NLT

He was given authority, honor, and royal power over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal––it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:14 NLT

Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." For in those days the LORD’s teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem. – Isaiah 2:3

Can you imagine what this will be like? Can you even begin to consider what a world without Satan and his influence would be like to live in? Jesus Christ, ruling from a literal throne in the city of David. It's the scene the disciples had in mind when Jesus showed up the first time. It's the scenario they had hoped He would bring about, but instead He died a cruel death on a Roman cross. God had a different plan with different timing. His Son would reign, but first He had to suffer and die. He would one day rule, but first He had to redeem sinful man by shedding His own blood as a payment. The day is coming when He will rule from Jerusalem. For 1,000 years He will reign in righteousness and the world will enjoy peace and prosperity like never before. He will bring what every politician has promised, but failed to deliver. Men will finally enjoy the kind of world they have always wanted. But even this will come to an end. At the close of the 1,000 year time period, Satan will be released (Revelation 20:7) from his imprisonment. But even this is completely under God's control. It seems that in spite of the peace and prosperity that men will have enjoyed throughout the 1,000 years, many will turn to Satan and follow him when he is released. They will turn against God and join forces with Satan in an attempt to overthrow Christ and His kingdom.

There is no clearer picture of man's depravity than this. In spite of having experienced the perfectly righteous rule of Christ and the benefits it affords, these men will rebel once again. They will be easily captivated by the lies of the enemy and be convinced that life under the rule of Satan will be better than life under the rule of Christ. But they will fail. God will prevail. He will completely destroy them and cast Satan into hell for eternity. Satan will have his last moment in the spotlight, but he will not succeed.

The amazing thing about this passage is that it reminds me that there is one place where Christ should reign supreme right now. And that is in my life. He should be on the throne of my life, ruling and reigning completely. He has defeated the enemy in my life. He has freed me from slavery to sin in my life. My life should be a microcosm of what that 1,000 year reign will be like. Satan is no longer in control of my life. I have been set free. I have the Holy Spirit living within me. I am a new creature. I belong to Christ. Yet, I still find it so easy to fall prey to the lies of Satan and rebel against my Savior. In spite of the fact that His rule in my life brings me prosperity and peace, I can so quickly rebel against Him. I can forget His blessings and turn back to the one who has been out to destroy me all my life. Yet I have the opportunity to live a life that illustrates what it means to have Christ reign in power and authority. I can demonstrate what having Christ on the throne of my life looks like. He can and does bring peace and prosperity now. When He rules, I enjoy blessing and abundance. When He reigns, I have joy and a freedom from sin's influence. Paul put it best when he said, "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 NLT).

Father, Your Son is to rule and reign right now – in the lives of those He has redeemed. Yet we so often allow ourselves to be deceived by the enemy and listen to his lies once again. We turn away from Christ and reject His rule in our lives. There is a day coming when He will reign for 1,000 years, unhindered, uninterrupted and unchallenged by Satan. But I have the ability to experience that same kind of peace and prosperity right now. May I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God and allowing Him to rule on the throne of my life – unhindered by the influence of sin and Satan. Amen

His Bride Has Prepared Herself!

Revelation 19

Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.). – Revelation 19:7-8 NLT

As the book of Revelation begins to come to a close, it chronicles the coming to a close of the end times. And one significant event will be the marriage supper of the Lamb. As His bride, the Church has belonged to Christ all along, but He will consummate His marriage to the church with a great celebratory feast. And the Church, the body of believers, will come to that feast arrayed in fine linen, the righteous acts of the saints. "Righteous acts flow from a righteous character, which is entirely of the grace of God" (Charles Ryrie, Revelation). But the righteous acts don't do themselves. Each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). We are given the garments to wear, but we must still put them on. God has given each of us the capacity or ability, through His indwelling Holy Spirit and as a result of His grace, to perform righteous acts. He is creating in us a righteous character from which should flow righteous behavior. It is that behavior that clothes us and makes us ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We are each preparing for that day. That should be our focus. That should be our highest priority. But notice that it is a corporate endeavor. It is the Church that is being presented, not individual believers. Together, we are the bride, not individually. So it is the righteous acts of the Church globally that clothe her and prepare her for her final presentation to Christ. It makes you wonder just how righteous our acts really are as a corporate body. If the "fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God," just how fine will that linen be? The thought of appearing at the wedding feast dressed in shabby clothes should petrify all of us. But do we even think about it?

All we will bring to the wedding feast will be what we have on. And that will consist entirely of any righteous acts we do while we are here on earth. Our entire lives should be spent in preparation for this one event. It should be our primary focus and motivation for our actions and activities here. The whole marriage metaphor has to do with purity, devotion, fidelity, and faithfulness. As the Church, we are betrothed to Christ. We belong to Him. We are apart from Him right now. But He is returning to claim His bride. We are to be preparing for that day. We are to remain pure and faithful to Him. We are to be getting ready for the marriage feast that will conclude the marriage ceremony. And it is our behavior while here on earth that will clothe us for that day. Yes, we have the righteousness of Christ. And yes, the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to do righteous deeds, but we must STILL do them. We must remain faithful and true. We must live our lives for Him in anticipation of that day.

Father, I want to live in anticipation of that day. But honestly, I don't think about it enough. And I don't think about the importance of my actions. My deeds, done in the power of the Spirit, and made possible by the cross of Christ, are what will play a part in clothing the bride of Christ for that great event. Help me to stay focused on that reality. I want the Church to be clothed in purity, and it will be. Because Jesus Christ has made it possible. Amen

Rejoice!

Revelation 18

Be glad over her, heaven, and you saints, and Apostles, and prophets; because she has been judged by God on your account. – Revelation 18:20 BBE

It is Christmas day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a day of rejoicing. A day of joy and celebration. But there is another day coming when rejoicing will take place in heaven and on earth. It is the day recorded in Revelation 18 when Babylon falls. The city of Babylon represents all things evil and wrong with this world. It will be an actual city, the headquarters of the Antichrist himself, but it is also a symbol of mankind's efforts to build a society that functions apart from the reign of God. From the tower of Babel until this point in the story recorded in Revelation, men have been trying to establish themselves as gods and set up their cities as heaven on earth. In his book, The Interpretation of St. John's Revelation, R.C.H. Lenski says this: Mystical Babylon is the representative of religious degeneracy, not civic wickedness." The great Babylon is more than just another great cosmopolitan city. It will be the home of the great religion of the day, where the Antichrist is worshiped. It will be a city of great power and wealth, where commerce is king and mankind's worship of money is readily apparent. You can see this by the mourning that takes place in this chapter (Revelation 18:15). But it will also be a city where immorality is worshiped. This city's destruction will bring a sense of loss to many, including the world's leaders (Revelation 18:9). Babylon represents mankind's attempt to do life without God. It is a picture of men who have determined to worship anything and everything but God Himself. "The wickedness of Babylon has been very great; for she had not only forsaken the true God herself, and set up idols,, but had with great art and industry drawn all sorts of men into the spiritual adultery, and by her wealth and luxury had retained them in her interest" (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible).

But we are told that her destruction will be great and complete. God will destroy her. And while the world will mourn over their loss, heaven will rejoice, along with all the saints, apostles, and prophets (Revelation 18:20). Like the fall of the Tower of Babel, Babylon will fall, because man cannot compete with God. While He may allow us to play at being gods, the day is coming when He will put an end to the charade. He will bring the madness to a close. God will show just how powerless men are without Him and how futile it is to try and stand against Him. "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer" (Revelation 18:21 NASB). There is only one kingdom that will stand in the end. There is only one city that will exist in the end. The city of God where Jesus Christ will reign in power and authority. The baby who was born in a manger will rule on a throne and He will be worshiped by more than a few lowly shepherds. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Father, You are all-powerful and nothing can stand against You. Thank You for reminding me of that this morning. Men at their best are no match for You. Our power, wealth, intelligence, and industry is nothing in comparison to You. We can worship what we have built, but You can destroy it all in an instance. And anything we worship in place of You will ultimately fail us. Because it can never replace You. Never let me forget that Father. Amen

But the Lamb Will Defeat Them!

Revelation 17

Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones. – Revelation 17:14 NLT

Have you ever felt like things just couldn't get any worse? Like God has some how lost control and your world is spinning out of control, with nobody in charge? Well, read the 17th chapter of Revelation and you will get an idea of what things must feel like to those who are in Christ during the final days of the tribulation. A false religious system will have sprung up during the first half of the tribulation period and it will have millions of adherents (Revelation 17:15). This will be a worldwide and ecumenical, and will have its headquarters in the newly established Rome, where the Antichrist will reign. This church will be apostate, yet powerful and influential. There will be a ten-nation federation that joins forces with the Antichrist with one common purpose: To wage war against Christ and His kingdom (Revelation 17:14).

But in the midst of all this news of impending doom is the reminder that God is in control. "Together they will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his people are the called and chosen and faithful ones" (Revelation 17:14 NLT). God will be victorious over this ten-king federation because of Jesus Christ. He and His followers who are alive during those days will resist the attacks of Antichrist and his followers. Christ will defeat them and those who are in Christ will share in His victory because they have remained faithful in spite of all the difficulties surrounding them. Isn't that what we are called to do? To remain faithful in the midst of all the persecution, pain, and temptations to give in? If we do so, we will share in His final victory. We must remind ourselves constantly that God is in control and nothing happens that He is not intimately aware of and ultimately in control of. John is reminded of this in chapter 17. "For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will mutually agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17 NLT). What these ten kingdom leaders will do, they do because God has put the idea in their heads. They will be carrying out the very purpose of God when they attack the people of God. They will align themselves with the Antichrist because that is exactly what God wants them to do – all so that the will and the word of God might be fulfilled. God is in control. That seems to be the over-arching them of this book. What a timely reminder to those of us who live in uncertain times. God is in control. He is in control of kings, presidents, nations, organizations, economies, armies, and every individual who walks the face of the earth. Sure, they may reject Him and live under the false impression that they are independent agents, but at the end of the day, they are all under His sovereign control.

God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. – Psalm 47:8 NLT

He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. – Daniel 2:21 NLT

The purpose of this decree is that the whole world may understand that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses––even to the lowliest of humans. – Daniel 4:17 NLT

I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, "What do you mean by doing these things?" – Daniel 17:34-35 NLT

Our God reigns. Our God rules. Our God wins! In spite of all that we see going on around us, we have to constantly remind ourselves that He is in control. He has a plan. He is going to complete that plan to perfection and in His time. We can trust Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder that You are in control – of kings, presidents, and rulers. You are in control of nature. You are in control of my destiny and the destiny of this world. I can trust You – even when things look bleak. Forgive me for letting anxiety and doubt to rule in my heart so often. You have never given me a reason to doubt You. And You never will. Amen

They Refused to Repent.

Revelation 16

They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. – Revelation 16:9 NIV

If you've ever struggled with the concept that in order for a man to repent and turn to God he must first be called by God, chapter 16 of Revelation ought to change your mind. Here we have a picture of the final days before the final battle between God and the forces of evil on the earth. God is bringing consecutive judgments on the earth and its inhabitants – seven of them to be exact. And they are anything but light. They include horrible sores on men and the waters of the earth turning to blood. The sun will give off excessive, scorching heat. There will also be a period of supernatural darkness on the earth. The River Euphrates will completely dry up and then there will be a massive lightning storm accompanied by earthquakes that change the topography of the earth, accompanied by massive hail stones as large as 100 pounds each! Yet in the midst of this unbelievable time of terror and destruction, we are told that men will refuse to repent and glorify God. That is amazing to me!

With all those things taking place around them and to them, these people will blaspheme God rather than turn to Him. They will refuse to turn from their sin and rebellion and worship the very one who is causing all this to happen. But "affliction if it does not melt, hardens the sinner" (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown). Back in Revelation 11:13, there were those who appeared to give glory to God, but it would be short-lived. Like Pharaoh, who would give in to the demands of Moses, then later harden his heart, these same people would go from glorifying God to blaspheming Him. Even in the midst of all the chaos and confusion, men will refuse to worship God. And they will die in their sin. But unless the Spirit of God turns a man's heart to God, it is impossible for Him to repent. Jesus said, "that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father" (John 6:65 NASB). The hearts of these people will be so dark and sin-riddled, they will unable to see the futility of their sin and the seriousness of their condition, even in the face of pending doom and destruction.

But if you think this all seems unfair, make sure you read verses 5-7. "And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, "You are just in sending this judgment, O Holy One, who is and who always was. For your holy people and your prophets have been killed, and their blood was poured out on the earth. So you have given their murderers blood to drink. It is their just reward." And I heard a voice from the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God Almighty, your punishments are true and just" (Revelation 16:5-7 NLT). We are reminded that, in spite of what we might think, God is just, righteous, and true – even in bringing His wrath and judgment to bear on the earth. He remains holy and completely right in all His actions. He has given the world ample opportunity to turn to Him. He sent His own Son to die for them. Yet they refused to believe and repent. So now He is finishing what He began. He is fixing what sin destroyed. And He is completely just in doing so.

Father, I don't always understand Your ways, but I try to trust them, because I know You are holy, just, and right in all Your ways. Affliction isn't always easy for me to handle. Sometimes I just want it to go away. Yet I know You have a purpose for it, just like You will in the last days. And while the days we are going through right now are nothing compared to what is to come, I pray that we would be willing to share the gospel with all those around us and that You would be preparing the hearts of many to hear. I know you use times of affliction to call men to Yourself, and we want to see that happen this coming new year. Amen

The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.

Revelation 15

And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.'" – Revelation 15:3 NLT

This is the shortest chapter in the book of Revelation, yet it is anything but light. It not only sets up chapter 16, it glances backward to the Lord’s former judgments, and anticipates the glory of heaven that is soon to come. It also introduces the last 7 judgments of the Lord known as the "bowl judgments".  The time period is midway through the tribulation. In this chapter we have the beginning of the end of the last 3 1/2 years where the Lord will set everything right. Verse 1 tells us that with the coming of these last seven plagues, the wrath of God is finished or complete.

But as in chapter 14, right in the middle of all the messages of wrath and judgment is singing. John sees a vision of a sea of glass on which are standing those believers who, having resisted the Antichrist and refusing to worship him, suffered martyr's deaths. They are singing two songs. The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. These are both songs of victory, praising God for what He has done and what He is about to do. They are praising God in the midst of all the judgment and wrath for His coming final victory. The song of Moses takes us all the way back to Exodus 15. It is a reminder of the song Moses sang after God had delivered the people of Israel by splitting the Red Sea and allowing them to walk across on dry land, and destroying the army of Pharaoh.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has thrown both horse and rider into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father’s God, and I will exalt him! … With unfailing love you will lead this people whom you have ransomed. You will guide them in your strength to the place where your holiness dwells. …The LORD will reign forever and ever!" – Exodus 15:1-2, 13, 18

The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my victory. You will lead this people. You will guide them to the place where Your holiness dwells. What a reminder that God is not done yet. He is still at work and He will complete that work. I can trust Him. This is all about deliverance and judgment. God will deliver His people and judge His enemies. He will have the final victory. He will triumph gloriously!

But there is another song. The song of the Lamb. We see this song in Revelation chapter 5.

You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become God’s Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth. … The Lamb is worthy––the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. – Revelation 5:9-10, 12 NLT

No victory would be possible without the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Had He not been killed, our ransom would not have been paid. Our victory is IN Jesus. He is to be praised and honored because He is the one who made it all possible. It reminds me of the words of the old hymn, Victory In Jesus.

I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood's atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory.

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

It really is victory in Jesus. His work on the cross is what will make future victory possible. He has guaranteed the outcome. So why wouldn't we sing?

Father, I don't sing enough about the glory and greatness of Your Son Jesus Christ. I am grateful for my salvation, but He has accomplished so much more than that. He has guaranteed the victory over sin and death. He has guaranteed the final victory over Satan and this world. His death and resurrection are what make the final outcome a positive one. It is why there can be singing in the midst of judgment. The end is NOT in question. It is guaranteed. And that is something worth singing about. Amen

A New Song.

Revelation 14

This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty–four elders. And no one could learn this song except those 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. – Revelation 14:3 NLT

I don't know why, but this chapter brings to mind the old Carpenter's song. I know you're going to hate me for this because you won't be able to get it out of your head now. But part of the lyrics are:

Sing, sing a song,

Sing out loud, sing out strong,

Sing of the good things, not bad,

Sing of the happy, not sad . . .

Chapter 14 opens up in with an image that is direct contrast to what John saw in chapter 13. In place of the dragon and the two beasts, we see the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Himself standing on Mount Zion surrounded by the 144,000 Jews who have come to have a saving faith in Him during the tribulation period. And they are singing a "new song." What is this song? According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's commentary on Revelation:

The song is that of victory after conflict with the dragon, beast, and false prophet: never sung before, for such a conflict had never been fought before; therefore new: till now the kingdom of Christ on earth had been usurped; they sing the new song in anticipation of His blood-bought kingdom with His saints.

This is a victory song. These 144,000 have survived the worst the enemy had to throw at them. They had made it through the tribulation and the assault of Satan. They had remained spiritually pure (Revelation 14:4). They represent just the beginning of the Jews who will come to faith in Christ before God is done (Revelation 14:4). And unlike those who worshiped the Antichrist and ended up with the mark of the beast on their hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16), these individuals have the name of God written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). They belong to Him. So they sing a new song – a song of joy and victory. God is on the verge of defeating His great enemy once and for all. Yet in the midst of it all, He will give those who are alive on the earth one more time to respond to His "eternal gospel" (Revelation 14:6). He gives them one more opportunity to choose between the worship of God or the Antichrist.

Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water! – Revelation 14:7 NET

Chapter 14 is full of good news and bad news. It is a chapter of contrasts. The redeemed are singing a new song. Yet the judgment of God is falling on those who refuse to acknowledge Him as God. But in the midst of it all He is giving them one more chance to repent and worship Him. In this chapter we clearly see God's holiness, judgment, justice, and wrath, but also His love and mercy. Even to the end He is calling for men to return to Him as the only source of their salvation from the judgment to come. We worship a holy God who must ultimately punish sin and those who rebel against Him. But He will not cease calling men to repentance – even right up until the end.

Father, I can't wait until the new song is sung. I can't wait until you bring all of this to an end. This world is not my home, I just passing through. My treasures are laid up in heaven. We live in a fallen and flawed world, but You are going to restore everything back to the way it was meant to be. You are going to continue redeeming men to a right relationship to You right up until the end. Because You are faithful and true. And You are going to keep Your promises to the people of Israel. You will restore many to a right relationship with You again. Not because of anything they have done, but because You are faithful and true. Thank You for reminding me of that this morning. Amen

An Unholy Trinity.

Revelation 13

All the world marveled at this miracle and followed the beast in awe. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast …,Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death–wound had been healed. – Revelation 13:3-4, 11-12 NLT

I have to be honest. I discovered something in my reading this morning that I have never seen before. In chapter 13 we have the introduction of the Beast or the Antichrist. Most of us are familiar with the name. There seems to be speculation every year as to who the Antichrist might be, with the names of various celebrities, government officials, and powerful individuals being thrown out as possibilities. But the truth is, we don't have a clue as to who this person might be. But there is a second beast mentioned in chapter 13. It is the False Prophet or the Antichrist's lieutenant, so to speak. So in one chapter we see the Dragon, which represents Satan. We have the appearance of the Beast or Antichrist onto the global stage. Then we meet the second Beast, who functions as the second-in-command to the Antichrist. These three represent what many theologians refer to as The Unholy Trinity. Together they form this triumvirate of power that is a poor imitation of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Satan has always been an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He is the great deceiver who attempts to replicate the power and authority of God. So this unholy trinity makes all the sense in the world. It fits Satan M.O. As his time begins to run out, Satan will unleash a final assault on mankind. And he will do so by attempting to replicate what God has done in the world. Satan will give the Antichrist his power, throne, and authority (Revelation 13:2). Just as God has given Christ all authority and has seated Him at His right hand in heaven, so Satan will give Antichrist power and authority here on earth. Not only that, but the Antichrist will apparently suffer some kind of fatal wound, but Satan will restore him to life. In other words, Satan will resurrect Antichrist, and as a result, every person on earth at that time will worship Satan and the Antichrist. Isn't it amazing how unimaginative Satan is? All he can manage to come up with is a poor rip-off of what God has already done through Jesus Christ. But it will have its desired affect. The people will be so taken with the Antichrist that they will say, "Is there anyone as great as the beast? Who is able to fight against him?" (Revelation 13:4 NLT).

But any similarities between Antichrist and Jesus Christ Himself are few. This individual will speak blasphemies (Revelation 13:5). He will speak against God, His name, His tabernacle, and all those who dwell in heaven. He will also make war with the saints who are on earth at that time. This will be those 144,000 who become Christ-followers during the Great Tribulation. Unlike Christ, the Antichrist will be against all that God stands for and all that Christ died for. Which is exactly why he is called ANTI-Christ. Yet everyone on earth will worship him. Except those whose names have been written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 13:8). They will remain faithful to the one true God and His Son.

The third individual in this unholy trinity is the False Prophet, the Antichrist's right-hand man. He will get his authority from Antichrist and operate on his behalf. In fact, one of his jobs will be to make all those on earth worship Antichrist. He will perform great signs and deceive those who dwell on the earth (Revelation 13:12-14). He is a poor imitation of the Holy Spirit. He will be the antithesis of the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, the False Prophet will encourage it. The Holy Spirit comforts and encourages. The False Prophet confused, deceives and ultimately, destroys. He will actually sentence to death any who do not worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:15). And He will cause a mark to be placed on the foreheads of any and all. This mark will determine who can buy and sell goods, and will act as a mark of ownership – that they belong to Satan. Yet the Word of God says that He "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:22 NIV). In His letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds us "when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13 NET). For believers, the Holy Spirit is our mark of ownership. But He is not a mark on our forehead. He lives within us.

Satan can only attempt to imitate what God has done, because he can't replicate it. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will both be men. They are not divine. Their power is limited and comes from Satan himself. Unlike God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, this unholy trinity is not eternal and all-powerful. They are limited in their power and influence and their days are numbered. That is the central message of the book of Revelation. God is going to bring all this madness to an end. Yet it is amazing to see men falling down and worshiping Satan himself. But in his commentary on Revelation David Guzik gives this insight:

"It may seem fantastic to some that the world would be led into worship of a man and of the devil. But by nature, men have an undeniable religious impulse, and they also have an undeniable rebellion against God. What men want most is not the elimination of religion, but their own religion. They say they want the kingdom, but they don’t want God in it."

Even today, men and women worship the kingdom of Satan. They worship the things of this world. They bow down before temporal things, making them the gods of their lives. In doing so, they worship Satan himself. We were made for worship. The question is whether we will worship God or Satan. In those days, man's rebellion against God's rule and authority over their lives will reach a crescendo. The worship of Satan will no longer be subtle and hidden, but outright and complete. But the story isn't over yet. God isn't done yet. Let's see what chapter 14 has to say next.

Father, Satan is such a loser. He is unimaginative and unable to mount a threat against Your kingdom. He is destined for defeat. But He will do his best to destroy men in his attempt to destroy You. But He loses in the end. He has already lost. All because of what Your Son Jesus Christ has done. He has defeated Satan, sin and death. And for that I am eternally grateful. Amen

It Has Happened At Last!

Revelation 12

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. – Revelation 12:10 NLT

While the book of Revelation is often thought of as a book of bad news, filled with images of destruction and judgment, it is also has a tremendous amount of good news – for those of us who are followers of Christ. I guess it depends on your perspective when you read it. For instance, this morning I read a story on the Dallas Maverick game that took place last night. I happen to be a Maverick fan, so when I read that they had beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, I was pleased. But if I had been a fan of OKC, I would have read that same story with a great deal of frustration and disappointment. My team would have lost. The same is true when reading the book of Revelation. When I read it as a Christian, I read it with the understanding that my "team" wins. And chapter 12 confirms that message. Once again, John hears a voice from heaven shout, "It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night" (Revelation 12:10 NLT). As a believer, I hear those words and they are nothing but good news. Sure, chapter 12 is filled with its fair share of bad news. Israel (the woman with child) is going to be persecuted by Satan (the red dragon) during the tribulation time on earth. But God is going to protect Israel during the last half of the tribulation (Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14). The Great Tribulation is going to be an extremely difficult time here on earth as the final judgment of God draws closer. This is the last hurrah of Satan and His followers.

That"s why verse 10 is so exciting. John hears it announced that the defeat of our great enemy, Satan, is at hand. It is as good as done. It won't be until chapter 20 that we find out his final destination – the abyss. But the voice from heaven let's everyone know that Satan is defeated. The is "thrown down." The great deceiver and accuser of the brethren has been defeated by God. And he has been overcome by those who came to Christ during the tribulation.

And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their testimony. And they were not afraid to die. – Revelation 12:11 NLT

Even during the Great Tribulation, long after the church has been removed and the Holy Spirit with it, God will still bring people to a saving knowledge of His Son. Those individuals will place their trust in the blood of Christ shed on the cross – just like we did. And their testimony will overcome the deceiver and accuser. They will be so confident in their salvation that they will willingly face death and martyrdom during those dark days. Which reminds me that I should have that same level of faith right here and now. I should have a confidence in my salvation and in the love and mercy of God that allows me to face whatever comes my way in this life. I should also revel in the fact that my team wins in the end! All because of the the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ (Revelation 12:10).

Father, while I won't be there to hear these words, I am excited to read them – "It has happened at last!" We are all waiting for that day. When Satan is defeated once and for all. We look forward to the day when Your salvation for mankind is complete. When Your kingdom is come in all its glory. But in the meantime may I have a confidence in the salvation of Your Son so that I stand firm in the face of adversity. I want to overcome the enemy through the power available to me in Jesus Christ. I want my testimony to be that I am willing to face even death for the sake of Christ. Because I trust that my team really does win in the end. Amen

And He Will Reign Forever and Ever!

Revelation 11

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." – Revelation 11:15 NLT

You probably recognize the words from the Hallelujah Chorus in the verse above. "And He shall reign forever and ever." But if you're like me, you didn't know exactly where Handel got the words from. Well, now we know. They came right from Revelation chapter 11. Here we have a picture of the coming of the end of the "mystery of God" referred to in chapter ten. The final judgment of the world and of Satan is coming to a close. As it gets closer and closer to the time when God brings all things to completion and the time of His kingdom on earth is about to arrive, the seventh angel, the same angel who held the scroll in chapter ten, will make an announcement: "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15 NLT). This announcement is in anticipation of God's final victory that will set up His kingdom on earth where He will reign forever and ever! At this news the 24 elders will fall on their faces and worship God saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry with you, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants. You will reward your prophets and your holy people, all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. And you will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth" (Revelation 11:17-18 NLT). The time of God's wrath has come. He will reward His own and destroy the rest. Any mystery to God's redemptive plan will be completely revealed. Everyone will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what God's plan is. This event was prophesied about in the book of Daniel: "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever" (Daniel 2:44 NASB). God will put an end to all the other kingdoms of men, and He alone will reign.

It is the setting up of Heaven's sovereignty over the earth visibly, which, when invisibly exercised, was rejected by the earthly rulers heretofore. The distinction of worldly and spiritual shall then cease. There will be no beast in opposition to the woman. Poetry, art, science, and social life will be at once worldly and Christian. – Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary of Revelation

Think about it. Everything will be under God's control again. It is not that He is out of control now, but that He is allowing things to operate counter to His original divine plan. The creation is broken and marred. There is an enemy alive and well, walking the earth and wreaking havoc on mankind. But that day is going to come to an end. The world is at odds with God right now. But the day is coming when everything will be made godly again. The kingdoms of this earth will give way to ONE kingdom over which God will reign through His Son Jesus Christ! This should be a reminder that our God is in control. He is going to set all things right. Even though everything around us looks broken and out of sorts, God will restore His world back to its original glory. He will reclaim what is rightfully His. And He will reign forever and ever. Think about this passage the next time you hear the Hallelujah chorus this Christmas.

Father, You will reign forever and ever. You will rule here on earth and there will no longer be any opposition. That day is coming. Help me to keep my focus on that reality. You are not done yet. Amen

The Mystery of God Is Finished.

Revelation 10

…but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. – Revelation 10:7 NASB

There has been a brief time of silence in heaven. We saw that in chapter nine. Now another angel breaks that silence with a voice that sounds like peals of thunder. He lifts up His right hand and swears an oath to God that there will no longer be any delay, because the mystery of God is finished. Evidently this "mystery of God" is the theme of the little book the angel holds in his hand. But what is the mystery he is talking about? What is this mystery of God? It is the mystery of God's plan of redemption. He is referring to the hidden ways of God that had been revealed through the prophets and made known through the apostles. Paul referred to this mystery when he said, "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1 NASB). In Ephesians, Paul once again refers to this mystery of the Gospel. He says, "that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief" (Ephesians 3:4 NASB). He goes on to explain what that mystery is: "to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Ephesians 4:6 NASB). The mystery or divine secret of God for mankind has come to an end. Now all will know what God is about to do. God had revealed His plan little by little through His prophets. Then with the coming of His Son, He made it more clearly known. Now the angel tells John that there will be nothing hidden any longer. The mystery of God's kingdom is going to be fully revealed. And that will include His final judgment of mankind. And it will involve the complete restoration of His kingdom. No longer will Satan rule on this earth. The ruler of this world will be dethroned and sin will be finally and completely dealt with. The result will be that God will reign. We'll see that played out in the next chapter.

Father, one day the mystery of Your kingdom on earth will be completely revealed. There are those who do not see it right now. They do not know that You are God and that You reign. But one day they will know beyond a shadow of a doubt. You will set all things right. You will deal with sin and Satan once and for all. Thank You for that assurance. Amen

Stubborn Right Up Until The End.

Revelation 9

But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood––idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts. – Revelation 9:20-21 NLT

Now the imagery really starts to get strange. Locusts ascending from a pit in the earth who have the capacity to torment men by stinging them like scorpions. These aren't your everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill locust, but they appear like battle horses with human faces and on their heads they wear golden crowns. They have long flowing hair like women and teeth like lions. On top of that, they have tails like a scorpion, and they are given the power to torture and torment all those alive on the earth at that time for five solid months – except the 144,000 who have come to Christ during the tribulation period. They are protected by God. But it will be so bad for the rest who are alive, that they will want to die. "In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee away!" (Revelation 9:6 NLT).

And it gets worse. Four angels or demons will be released who will destroy one-third of mankind. Added to the one-fourth who were killed under the fourth seal judgment these two judgments alone destroy one-half of the earth's population. Yet in spite of all that is happening, there will be those alive at that time who will refuse to repent. "The remaining men and women who weren't killed by these weapons went on their merry way--didn't change their way of life, didn't quit worshiping demons, didn't quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver and brass, hunks of stone and wood that couldn't see or hear or move" (Revelation 9:20 MSG). That's hard to imagine isn't it? How could anyone who lives through this kind of cataclysmic event not turn away from their worship of anything or anyone other than God? Yet it reveals the hardness of the human heart. They would rather worship idols they have made with their own hands than turn to the one true God who is bringing about judgment on the face of the earth. Others would rather die than repent. It just goes to how that there are those who, even in the face of eminent destruction, will not bow their knee to the living God. More than half of the earth's population will die and the rest will stubbornly cling to their misguided worship of false gods. And the result will be their eternal destruction.

Unless God moves our hearts, none of us would ever seek Him. We do not have the capacity to seek after God. Each of us would choose death over life if it were left up to us. But God, in His mercy, chose to reveal Himself to us through His Son Jesus Christ. He opened our eyes so that we might see the beauty of the Gift. He removed the scales from our eyes so that we might see the truth of our condition and the hope of salvation made available through His Son. We should be "eternally" grateful that God chose us in order that we might choose Him.

Father, what more can I say than "Thank You?! You opened my eyes to the truth. You softened my hardened heart. You placed Your Spirit within me. Otherwise I would never have chosen You. I would have been just like those in John's vision – stubbornly clinging to the ridiculous gods of my own making. So I truly am grateful for Your abundant grace and mercy. Amen