Revelation 1:12-16 - A Sharp Two-Edged Sword

God longs for His people to be loyal, thankful, grateful, and faithful.  An honorable people because of who we are and what we do.  God is not blind.  He sees when His people ignore Him and vigorously pursue everything but Him, like a glib adulterous prostitute (Hosea 2).  How often do we make decisions based on money or self-interest rather than honoring God with righteousness?

        Yet God, by His very nature loves us so much that He pursues His children, like a Shepherd pursuing a lost sheep.  God, in ever more spectacular and creative ways, wins us back and calls us His children.  As John says, we are “His dear children.” And we, in unison, reply by calling the risen Messiah our Lord and our Saviour.

        It is striking that God put a complete end to the old way (Hebrews 8:13) and entered into a new covenant with His people (Jeremiah 31:31 and Luke 22:20) .  When we think about the purpose of the church and the purpose of Revelation we must keep in mind God’s promise (fulfilled) of a new covenant with His people.  God’s plan of salvation was so well explained by Peter in Acts 2 on the morning of Pentecost.  God spoke through Peter as He promised He would and people responded (their hearts were pierced by the word of God).  Sinners repented of their sins and trusted in God, by the thousands.

        It is often said that God has a sense of humour.  Indeed that is a great understatement.  But God also has a flare for the dramatic.  Jesus teaches and tells stories because that’s His character.  Jesus is the Master Storyteller, and we are part of His story.  And in turn, Jesus expects us to teach as the apostles did by recounting Jesus’ stories and by following the Holy Spirit.  If you want to home-school well, tell good stories and teach great stories.  Recount the stories of old and write new stories with your God-given creativity.  God so loves an epic drama.  God majors in come-from-behind victories, tragedies, triumphs, and true tests of character - He is the author of achieving the impossible.

        We see that in Acts and in Revelation.  God’s people will prevail.  We will build and we will overcome.  Yes, evil is real.  As is hell.  But so is victory in Christ, unity in Christ, and a people of God so united that God is honored and pleased.  As God’s children, we must not go back to a dead and empty covenant.  We have the opportunity to bring glory to God by the grace of God.  Let us not go back to futile ways.  The law cannot save you.  Nor can customs or countries or the country club.  And God forbid that the charges God brought against Israel (Hosea 4) be brought against His people of the covenant of Christ’s blood (Mark 14:24).

        People often ask what should we do in this sphere or that (public, private, industry, non-profit, etc.).  Take action.  Put your faith into action, that’s what.  Don’t be ashamed of calling yourself what you are, a child of God.  Gather, pray, and go out and serve.  We prove we are God’s people by what we do.

        If we follow evil and make our decisions based on selfish ambition and greed then it’s obvious that our judgments are guided by evil motives (James 2:4).  Don’t blame God.  He’s not the stubborn one.  The Bible says it is people who stubbornly and foolishly refuse to understand God’s love and His ways.  As Peter tells the gathering at Pentecost, repent of your sins and turn to God.  It’s not an accident that such a large part of the New Testament is the Book of Acts and the letters to the early church - God wants us to see how He built the church and how He is building the church.  We are to keep at it until God unmistakably returns (there is no other way of His return).

        Let’s encourage each other to love God and love those who believe in Jesus.  Let us be fully committed to God (as a faithful and loving Bride), devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to sharing in meals, and to prayer (Acts 2:42).  Help others to become believers, “for only we who believe can enter his rest” (Hebrews 4:3).

        Jesus is alive today, just as John describes Him in Revelation 1:12-16.  He is the Ancient of Days.  All wisdom is found in Him.  He is pure and perfect.  His fragile feet that bore our sins on the cross are now made new, strong, and refined by fire.  His voice is unmistakable, roaring like a lion, fierce, loud, and commanding.  He indeed holds His church together.  And from Jesus’ mouth comes His word.

        The Bible tells us the importance of honoring and obeying God’s word.  Speaking to the church, God says, “But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.  For the word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable” (Hebrews 11-13).

        May sinners repent today; may we bring great joy in the presence of the angels of God.  May the church be strengthened to do great things for God.  May God’s face shine upon His children today, like the sun in all its brilliance.  Amen.

Downtown DC with Kari.