Revelation 16 - Firsts and Lasts

        Books tend to have a beginning and an end.  They have a first page and a last.  The Book of Revelation does not disappoint in that regard.  Nor does the Bible.  Mysteriously, the Book of Life goes on forever - there will always be another good chapter.  God is the Author of Creation - He created us in His image.  Your creativity and ability to produce far exceeds the limitations you put on it.  Let’s challenge each other as believers in the Lord Jesus to trust in God alone as we work, create, and build.  Let’s have a Kingdom-building mindset.

        God provides the just rewards (Matthew 23 (wicked farmers) and Rev. 16:6).  Revelation tells us to have the right mindset, sober preparedness, and steadfastness to endure and grow in all situations.  We hear that God provided a true and just reward for the tenant farmers who shed the blood of His holy people and prophets.  Each of us is loved by God, but each will indeed receive his or her just rewards (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

        Sometimes the high ground is not as high as we think (Genesis 7:20 - the water rose 22 feet above the highest peaks).  Our faith must be in Christ alone.  All other things are temporal and untrustworthy.  God is there - He loves you amid what you’ve gone through and are going through.  He knows our challenges.  And He is faithful to love and Shepherd us, for He is the Good Shepherd.  God has a plan and a purpose for your life.  And we can trust God that He loves every person and that He seeks good for all of us.  God is preparing an eternal home for those who trust in Jesus Christ.

        Morality - right and wrong conduct, motives, and living - is central to our purpose for living, the plan for our life.  And it is central to God’s judgment, the just reward of each person.  We can’t blame our spouse, our parents, or bad luck.  We are created in the image of God Almighty.  We are responsible today for what we think, say, and do.

        God’s love for each of us is beyond measure.  His plan of salvation is that we put our full faith and trust in the One who paid the price for our immorality - our sin.  You and I have a name.  Each of us is unique.  Each person known by and loved by God can reject Jesus and take the things of this world as our path and our prize.  Alternatively, we can accept God’s love and grace and forgiveness, repent of our sins, and have our name written in the Book of Life by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 16:9-11).  

        It’s a mysterious plan.  But it’s good.  It’s God’s plan.  It calls for a mind willing to understand.  By God’s grace be willing to hear Jesus today.  He gives us just enough light and faith to know we can trust Him despite the circumstances.  God puts a plan in our minds to do His will and to fulfill His purpose.

        It's a great day to be alive and to love others as God commands.  The early church believed that the Book of Revelation told of the judgments of God for the near and far future.  John wrote to warn and encourage the church that Jesus is God, the Alpha and Omega.  We understand Revelation and the judgments it describes to be primarily fulfilled in the first century as Jesus prophesied (Matthew 23 and 24), with final fulfillment in the Return of the King.  It’s God’s story, from the first page to the last.

        Scripture tells us that there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good, who never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  Grasping that is essential.  So what does God see when he sees us individually and collectively - all of our pursuits.  He sees sinners in need of a Rescuer.  And He still loves us.  The human race is God’s creation made in His image, male and female (Genesis 1:27).  God planned from the beginning a people who would have pure hearts through Jesus Christ.  God seeks a relationship with us.  He loves His dear children and He has always been fair and honest and charitable with us.

        Even Eve, the mother of all mankind and the notorious first sinner had a deep relationship with her Creator.  When she gave birth to Cain, Eve said that with the LORD’s help, she produced a man (Genesis 4:11).  And when Eve gave birth to Seth she again immediately gave honor to God for she knew that despite her rebellion and sin it was God that granted her another son in place of Abel (4:25).  Just like Eve, God loves you, more than you can imagine.

        We often hear the doom and gloom preachers say that the world has never been as bad as it is now and that it must only get worse.  They are blind guides and they do not know Scripture.  They do not trust Jesus; money is their heart’s desire.  They do not know the immeasurable power of God and they fail to see how He loves us and how He is building His Kingdom.

        In Scripture, we see just how wicked things were in ancient times.  “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” (Genesis 6:5).

        The totality of the depravity of mankind broke God’s heart.  People - like sheep without a shepherd.  Indeed, without Jesus, we are doomed.  But the Good News is that we have the Great Shepherd.  He came to earth just as God planned and foretold.  He reigns in heaven today and He is patiently preparing and waiting for the full number of believers to come to faith in Him.

        In ancient times there were people who had faith in God and who lived in a close relationship with God (Enoch and Noah are two early examples).  And now there are a multitude more - across this great globe.  God uses His faithful children to build His Kingdom.  Be that faithful child today. 

        Thank you for this life, Lord Jesus, may we honor you in word and deed today.  Amen.

Cowtown.