Wipe Every Tear
I’ve seen a lot of tears as a pastor. It comes from all different situations. Often, there is little I can do except comfort them in their time of need. As a believer we have to accept that tears, and the plain that causes them, are a part of life. One day that will change. When Jesus returns He will lead us and God will wipe every tears away.
Revelation 7:17
“for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
The term “Lamb” is used to describe Jesus in several places in the Bible. Here John depicts the “Lamb upon the throne” as Jesus sitting at His rightful place, as the rightful ruler. He is depicted as a lamb because He was the perfect sacrifice, without spot of blemish, to appease God’s wrath and atone for our sin. He is also as gentle as a lamb and will act that way as He shepherds his people, guiding them to the spring of life. Who wouldn’t want to serve under a leader like that?
Every Nation and Tribe
One of the great things about the Olympics is the closing ceremonies when all of the nations enter in together. Every Flag is brought in but all of the countries are enter as one large group. The athletes are in party mode and are hanging out with other athletes they have met all over the world. This is what I picture when I read Revelation 7. There is a great multitude and everybody nation and tribe is represented.
Revelation 7:9
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;”
When we all get to heaven what a wonderful place it will be (I think that is a song from the 70’s). All of the believers from every nation and tribe over all of time will be there. They will be gathered standing before the throne declaring that Salvation is from the Lord. Give me chills just thinking about it. While we live different lives right now we will all be the same up there. There will be no more debates about worship style or doctrine, it will all be settled.
Sense of Completion
There is something special about doing something for the last time. When an employee retires after decades with a company or an athlete hangs up his competitive career, there is a sense of completion. As Jesus hung on the cross, he proclaimed, “It is Finished.” He knew the work of the cross was completed. You are the benefactor of that work.
John 19:30
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
There is something so powerful about those words, “It is finished.” To me, it means more than completion. It also means completion. Everything that Jesus was given to do on earth had been completed. He has crossed the finished line, fought the good fight, and won! The incredible thing is that he wasn’t racing or fighting for Himself, but us. He conquered sin and reopened access to his Father at that moment. The perfect sacrifice was complete, and God’s wrath was appeased. Only the Son of God would do this for the world.
Convicted of a Crime He Didn’t Commit
The cross makes you think of what Jesus went through to redeem the lost. He endured humiliation, suffering, and death so that our sins could be forgiven. It makes you think about some of the inconveniences we go through that we make a big deal over. As the crowds were yelling, “Crucify Him,” Jesus remained silent. An innocent man being convicted of a crime He didn’t commit.
John 19:6
“So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”
The crucifixion shows you how far man will go to have their way. The spiritual leaders were obsessed with eliminating Jesus to hold on to their power and influence. Jesus exposed their hearts by His ministry, and He had to be removed. Even Pilate, who was ungodly as they come, saw the innocence of Jesus and His opponents’ jealousy. Not much has changed today. Those opposed to Jesus want to eradicate any influence His followers have on society. They may not yell “crucify,” but they are still trying to cancel His church.
The Way of the Righteous
Sometimes it seems like the wicked of this world get away with everything while the righteous struggle. That may be true for a while, but eventually, the wicked person’s deeds are exposed. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Continue following Jesus and being obedient to His Word. He knows the way of the righteous.
Psalms 1:6
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
The most honored place in a Jewish village was to stand in judgment as one of the leaders at the city gate. It showed you had reached maturity and had shown integrity over your life. David says the ‘wicked’ man will not stand in that place or be in the congregation because they have been blown away like chaff. There was nothing of substance in the person, and their decisions took them away from any honor. It would shame the person as well as their family.
Fill Your Tank
Are you one of those people who run your car till the last drop of gas is used? Is the low fuel light lit continuously on your dashboard? Did you know running your car that way does damage to your engine? All the dirt in gasoline that settles at the bottom of your tank gets sucked into the engine when you run it at low levels. The same can be said for Christians who live their lives without getting God’s Word into their hearts daily. Fill your tank each morning.
Psalms 1:2
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
The Psalms show us the way into the presence of the Lord. It could be said that Psalm 1 is the foundation that every other Psalm is built on. David lays out the keys to an upright life and what trips the righteous up. In this passage, he tells the reader that the upright delights in the law of the Lord. As a New Testament believer, you can switch the Law of the Lord for the Word of God. A believer finds great joy in thinking on the word throughout the day. Charles Spurgeon got the idea for his devotional “Morning and Evening” from this passage. The thought was that you started and ended the day with the Word of God.
Walking Upright
The Bible uses the metaphor of walking throughout all of Scripture. One facet of walking with Jesus is walking upright. That means more than just posture. It also means doing the right thing and going in the right direction. Israel had wandered off of the path during Hosea’s time and gotten lost. Fortunately, God had brought them back, and now He is telling them to walk in righteousness lest they stumble again.
Hosea 14:9
“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.”
As Hosea concludes his book, he offers some wise counsel on how Israel should proceed. It is straightforward advice. Walk in the ways of the Lord. Be obedient to His commandments and don’t live in sin. After all that Israel has been through, this is much-needed instruction. They have stumbled, and yet God is picking them up and giving them another chance. Hosea encourages them to heed his counsel and to obey
God’s Word.
Not of This World
Leaders of the world like to boast of the power of their military. They do this to present an image of strength and power. Sometimes that confidence can lead to a false sense of security. A bigger and more powerful army can come in and lay waste in a short time. When Jesus was going to the cross, he was questioned about His kingdom, and He replied, “Not of this World.”
John 18:36
“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Jesus was being questioned by Pilate, “tell me about your kingdom?” Jesus proceeds to tell him that His kingdom is not of this world. By that, Jesus means that it is in heaven with His Father. He didn’t have any land to call His own or an army on earth to go to war. Everything He has is in another world. One day He will come and reign over this world for one thousand years, but until that time, it is not of this world. Pilate couldn’t understand that, and many today can’t either. They have a worldly view that doesn’t extend beyond our atmosphere. A follower of Jesus is heavenly-minded and looking for the return of their king.
Nothing Can Stop Him
Have you ever watched professional wrestling? When I was growing up, there was a wrestler named Andre the Giant. He towered over all of the other wrestlers, and he rarely lost. It was till the end of his career that Hulk Hogan body slammed him. Our God is much bigger than Andre the Giant, and nothing can stop Him.
Job 42:2
“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”
Job had it rough, and Satan had poured all his resources into bringing him down, yet God knew that even though Job didn’t deserve it, there were things that Job needed to learn through the trials. It is easy to get comfortable when things are going right. We lose our edge and start to sit back and take what we have for granted. Job wasn’t at this point yet, but he still believed that his success was, in part, his own doing. Near the end of everything, Job recognizes that God can do whatever he wants and nothing can stop Him.
Worthy is the Lamb
I can’t wait to get to heaven. It will be a glorious place where all the cares of the world disappear, and our hearts and minds will be focused on Jesus. We will spend a good deal of our time declaring His goodness and expressing our gratefulness for Him extending His grace to us. Revelation 5 tells us that we will declare, “Worthy is the Lamb.”
Revelation 5:11-12
“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation is a book where God gave a vision to the Apostle John while he was in captivity on the island of Patmos. Part of that vision is of the throne room of God. Here in verses 11-12 of chapter 5, John sees myriads of people and creatures. A myriad equals ten thousand. There were hundreds of thousands of people around the throne doing one thing, worshipping Jesus. They were all proclaiming, “Worthy is the Lamb.” It is going to be a glorious day when we are among those in the throne room.
Your Destiny is Determined
There is a trail I ride that is called the hidden trail. It’s not really hidden, but there is a big dip at the start of it that scares off most riders. There were several times I looked at it and turned back. I didn’t want to get injured and be a burden to my family or miss time from work. Once I finally committed, it ended up being the most enjoyable trail on the mountain. People treat a relationship with Jesus the same way. They don’t want to commit at first, but once they do, they never regret it. Your destiny is determined.
John 17:3
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
The seventeenth chapter of John is Jesus’ prayer for the disciples after the Last Supper. He starts off praying that they (and the church after them) know that eternal life is only found in God through His Son Jesus. Part of this was prophetic because ever since then, humans have been trying to enlarge the opening to heaven by saying that all roads there. Jesus also wanted the Disciples to be sure of their eternal destiny because of their assurance of salvation. They knew this, and this ensured their entrance through the pearly gates.
Crowning Moment
The coronation of a king or queen is filled with rich tradition and great fanfare. When they bow down, and the crown is placed on their head, the whole cathedral recognizes power transition. That crown represents the position that they are now in. As they sit on the throne, they assume the responsibility that comes with their crown. Did you know that there will be twenty-four elders in heaven who will have crowns and who will sit on thrones around Jesus’? It will be a crowning moment.
Revelation 4:4
“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”
Heaven is going to be an amazing place. At the center will be the throne room where Jesus will be sitting. Around Him will be twenty-four thrones on which the elders will be seated. They will be wearing white garments, which represent how they have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. There is a lot of debate about who these twenty-four will be but suffice it to say it will take the twelve Apostles, including Paul. Their primary focus will be to cast their crowns and worship the Lord.
Get Back on Track
My brother lifted his truck when we were younger. It looked like it was an off-road vehicle, and he liked to drive it where it wasn’t meant to go. Unfortunately, he was always getting towed out of the sand by someone who had a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Christians have a propensity to get off the path God has for them and then need to be brought back. Hosea shows us how to get back on track.
Hosea 12:6
“Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.”
After all of the dire prophecy and indictments to Israel, Hosea tells them how to get back on track in their walk with the Lord. As with most instructions in the Bible, they are simple to understand but challenging to implement. First, they have to return to God. This means first recognizing their sins and then turning from them (repentance). You will never get back on track with the Lord unless you acknowledge you are a sinner and there is sin in your life that needs to be made right. No one gets around this. It doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how many good deeds you have done to needy people. Your sin separates you from the presence of God. Take the time to get right with Him.
It’s Hard to Say Goodbye
Goodbyes are tough. You have to say them to people close to you, and the thought of being apart can seem unbearable. You look forward to the next time you see them, and when that happens, your heart is filled with joy. Jesus had to say goodbye to the Disciples right before He went to the cross, and He knew that it would cause grief, but He promised to see them again, and it would be much better. It’s hard to say goodbye.
John 16:22
“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”
That Last Supper was more than just a dinner. Jesus used that time to give final instructions and prepare the Disciples for life after He left earth. He also said goodbye, and the Disciples were filled with grief. Grief is that feeling of sorrow and that things would never be the same. It was okay for them to feel this way, but Jesus knew it would get better. He was going to see them again, and their hearts would be filled with joy. After the resurrection, He appeared to them multiple times, and He knew He would see them again in eternity.
Open the Door of Your Heart
Anyone who has raised teenagers will tell you that they use the door to their room to assert their growing independence. They want to be left alone to figure out life. Often, what was once a healthy, loving relationship with their parents grows lukewarm. Parents are often left standing at their door, knocking to see if they can come in. Jesus does the same with you. He stands knocking, asking if you will open the door of your heart.
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
This verse is written to the church in Laodecia, otherwise known as the lukewarm church. They got that tag because the water from the hot springs that flowed downhill from Heiropolis to Laodecia was lukewarm. People would spit it out of their mouths after drinking it. Jesus compares the church to the city’s water. They were neither hot nor cold in their faith. They had shut Jesus out of their lives. So, Jesus was standing at the door, knocking to see if they would open up. He wanted to come in and dine with them. That meant He wanted a close relationship.
Time for a Wake Up Call
There are a lot of people walking around today that look alive and successful on the outside but are dead on the inside. Many of them have lives that others would die for, but to them, it means nothing. They need to wake up before it’s too late. It’s time for a wake-up call for many in the church. They have been sleepwalking through life.
Revelation 3:5
“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Through the church of Sardis, Jesus is telling us that those who overcome this world will spend eternity with Him. This is a big deal to that church because it has the appearance of being alive and full of good works, but it is dead on the inside. Jesus tells them to wake up and strengthen what remains because they are not complete in God’s sight. That is not a good judgment from Jesus but is something that we could easily fall into. We want to be alive on the inside, so wake up.
No Greater Love
People do some crazy things to express their love for one another. Most of the time, it is someone trying to become Instagram famous by their marriage proposal. The internet is littered with videos of these attempts and failures. Most have some entertainment value, but almost all reflect a sad state of what people think is love. Jesus says, “No great love than this, that one lays down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
In John 15, Jesus changes the second greatest commandment from “Love your neighbor as yourself” to “Love one another.” It may seem like a subtle shift but going from neighbor to one another meant that love had to be more personal and applied to everyone. Then Jesus says that the greatest form of love is to lay down your life for your friends. He will model this shortly after by dying on the cross. While you won’t be asked to die on a cross for your loved ones, the principle remains.
Abiding in the Vine
I am surrounded by vineyards where I live. Very few things are more beautiful than driving the highways seeing all the rows of vines as they sprout their green leaves. Jesus used the analogy of the vine to talk about the importance of Christians abiding in the vine....
Have You Abandoned the Love?
Do you need a particular date to tell those you care about that you love them? Do you go about your business the rest of the days of the year doing your own thing? If you truly love someone, it flows out of your heart, and you express it with words and gifts. Somehow, people think it is natural and okay to tell Jesus they love Him once or twice a year. John asks us in Revelation, “Have you abandoned the love?”
Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
In the book of Revelation, John writes seven letters to seven different churches. They were all in Asia, which we know as modern-day Turkey. Ephesus was the central city, and the other six formed a postal route around it. The first letter in the series is to the church in Ephesus. They are a busy church fighting wrong doctrine and doing good deeds, but their hearts have grown cold for Jesus, and they have left their first love. From the outside, it looked like a thriving church, but on the inside, it was slowly dying.
Reaping Kindness When You Don’t Deserve It
The danger for every Christian is letting their hearts grow cold and hard due to sin. When that happens, they become insensitive and uncaring. Only a reversal of their heart, led by the Holy Spirit, will bring about change. When it happens, it’s like we are reaping kindness when you don’t deserve it. That is what God is telling Israel He will do.
Hosea 10:12
“Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”
Hosea keeps the theme of sowing and reaping by telling the people to sow righteousness, and you will reap kindness. Another translation says mercy. Israel had been sowing sin, and they were about to reap judgment, but even at the last moment, God was telling them if they sowed doing the right thing, He would extend mercy to them. What a gracious God! Who would overlook generations of sinfulness and extend mercy? The only one would be the God we serve.