#reverehim

[lissa232]

#verseoftheday #followthelord #reverehim #servethelord #obeyhiscommands #servehim #holdfasttohim @olive_tree_bible (at Columbia, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/BotgF1zhFdw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jtz1zg45tpbl

[lanterninthenight]

Why You're Reading Revelation Wrong

If you've ever heard anything about the book of Revelation, you're probably terrified. There are chapters on top of chapters about dragons and beasts and tribulation, and let's be honest, none of us fully understand it, so that just makes it even more scary. It's readying us for a trying hour to come and yet no one can really make sense of it. Theologians can give their best assessments and saints can devote themselves to reading it faithfully, but there are so many lines to be drawn and none of us can seem to draw them without wonder. And yes - I believe that we should continue to read it over - to prepare ourselves for what is to come. I even believe that being terrified of the glory of God is fitting because He will have His way whether you are a part of it or not. But I also think that we, as Christians, should put a brand new lens on as we read it. And I only think that because I was blown away by it this time in a way I never have been. I saw something absolutely beautiful. We know that if we believe in Jesus and surrender our lives to His purpose, we have become the very bride of Christ. If you haven't done that, this story may not hold the same tune. But for us, those who accepted the sacrifice of Jesus - those who counted it so costly that they would give up their lives just to try to hold a candle to what He did for us - the faithful and called and true - Revelation is the most magnificent love story there is. And it's all in how you look at it. Because if you see it as a book explaining God to be full of hate and wrath for imperfect people, you're missing the point. When God intimately created man, He created them creatures of free will. He gave them the choice to love Him back. The choice. And He knew that some would absolutely refuse Him - the very one that fashioned their bodies and souls together by divine romance. But He didn't want to make robots that had to choose Him because is it really love if you have to? (This would be so for the Angels as well.) So before He created the beauty of Earth for us to enjoy, or the animals that would make this place what it is, before He set His eye upon man and made beautiful humans with functions that we're still trying to figure out today, He knew we would choose other lovers. He knew we would sin and that we would be so wrapped up in it that we would forget about Him completely before any of us would turn back. He knew that we would suffer the agony of our sins and He would have to watch those He loves be eaten up by it, so He provided a way out. That if anyone would choose His sacrifice, they would be brand new, reversing the curse of sin, and steadily being remade into His likeness - the likeness we bore in the beginning. He also knew that not everyone would accept that sacrifice- no matter how costly it was. But He counted those who would accept it worthy of the trouble to come. And that's what we see in Revelation. God's final fight against sin. His wrath against those who have been given grace on top of grace on top of grace and still refused it. It is the turning point of the Still Faithful Lover that has begged and pleaded for his love - given them a way out of their adultery with the wicked one - and is finally repaying the debt in justice. It is war against the enemy that has turned His creation against their Creator. It is the powerful hand of God redeeming the blood of His Bride. It is chaos and sword. It is a husband cutting off the wickedness that has tormented and killed the one that He loves simply because they love Him. It is eternal death for unfaithful lovers that waged war against Him and against the faithful. It is the final war against the enemy that thought he won at the cross. It is the end of Satan and his schemes among men. It is the Lake of Fire for him, his armies and his lovers. It is the end of sin. It is the end of shame. It is an end to satan's rule. It is a call to the endurance of the faithful. It is a sacrificial love that bids us to endure all things to the end. To die if we have to. It is a love letter warning us of what is to come so that we don't have to go into it completely blind. It is gruesome and yet glorious. It means that we may have to endure unspeakable things due to the effect of sin and the hold satan has on this world, but it means His eternal protection. It is a story of our love back to Him. It is a story of an adulteress nation that has been redeemed by their lover's costly sacrifice and are willing to endure all things so that He may know that they love Him, too. It is a promise. A promise that this ugly war lasts but for a short time. And when it's over, He will have His bride - free of all her guilt and rid of all her shame - known by her true name. And all wickedness and those ruled by it will be no more. No longer will meekness look like weakness and no longer will anyone despise the love of God. And after all of these things take place, we will dwell securely with Him in a Kingdom of unspeakable majesty and peace. F o r e v e r.

[lanterninthenight]

Revere Him.

I would say we have lost our idea of reverence, but I don't think that's the case. I think we revere the wrong things. I think we revere men. So much so that when our sin is found out by them, our hearts sink, our pride is shaken and our faces blush--demanding of us to never do it again. Yet we bow before the Father, the Creator of our entire being, with a passing, repetitive, fleeting phrase: "Father, forgive me." And then dine, yet again, with our idols.