Revelation 22:1-6
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
When I was in college and had a big test looming in front
of me, I would play a mind game to help me get through the difficult time of
studying. I just kept telling myself, “Don’t think about the test. Think about
when the test will be over.” I don’t know that this helped my grades any, but
it did help relieve the stress.
John wrote Revelation from the island of Patmos which was
likely a Roman penal colony. He was sent there because of his Christian beliefs
and witness. In fact, during those days, many Christians were being persecuted
because they refused to worship Caesar as Lord. Those were very difficult times
for believers.
In part, Revelation was written as an encouragement to
those believers experiencing
first-hand the wrath of the Roman authorities. John
pointed them to what lay beyond the persecution; beyond the test of life on
earth. For believers today, he points to the Tree of Life; to Eden restored.
If you think of it, what John did was similar to what I
did in college; to look beyond the pain and suffering of the here and now. Clearly,
there is no comparison between the pain and suffering that the first century
believers endured and me taking a test. But the principle is the same; look
past the immediate trials to the end.
You may not be going through persecution or taking a
test, but you may be experiencing other trials. Maybe a loved one has been
diagnosed with inoperable cancer; maybe you didn’t get the promotion you
deserved or you were fired or the daily grind of work is a burden; maybe you
struggle with an addiction or someone in your family does; maybe you deal with
depression or a mental illness.
Whatever your struggle is, John is telling you that
ultimately, victory is waiting for you. The New Eden is at the end of the road,
where living in His presence and seeing the
face of God will be your daily reward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjZ01FcK0yk
In 2013, the Newsboys released a song titled, We
Believe. The final words of the song are, “We believe he’s coming back
again”. That’s what John wrote to the believers in the first century, and to us
in the 21st century.
If you have a moment, listen to the song and see if it
doesn’t give you the Hope to make it through your temporal trials.
(If
God has spoken to you through this blog, please feel free to share the link
with others.)
No comments:
Post a Comment