We sometimes have a ‘Santa Claus’ view of God, and a ‘Park Ranger’ view of Jesus. The many ‘Jesus’ films haven’t helped. He is often portrayed as a soft-spoken cutie-pie who is in our lives to make us feel better and help us become nicer people. Even the paintings we have of Jesus (none of which were done by people who actually saw Jesus) do not help in our understanding of the Son of God. We tend to treat Jesus as one of our friends rather than our only Savior. So I thought I would post a section of the book of Revelation today. This was written by one of the closest friends of Jesus. His name is John, and Jesus came to him in his old age, many years after He had descended to Heaven. John loved Jesus, and knew Him as well as any human ever did. One would think that when he saw Him again it would be a very normal and easy exchange. But look at how he relates the surprise meeting… The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, who testified to God’s word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw. The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near! John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.” I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow—and His eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. - (Revelation 1) Even when Jesus’ closest friend meets Him again, he responds with great fear and reverence. Jesus may be your best friend… but He isn’t your ‘boy’, or your ‘bud’, or your ‘homie’, or your ‘bro’. He is God almighty in the flesh. He is the Everlasting God. He is holy and to be honored. He is pure and powerful. He is true and triumphant. He is more than we can imagine and all that He promises. When you pray today, seek Jesus. Not the one you see in Sunday School books or the one in the painting at church. Seek the true Jesus who is as mighty as He is merciful, and as terrifying as He is tender. This is the Jesus Who will drive out the Devil from your life and hold you when the storms are too great for you. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
March 2019
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