The Worthy One

            “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”  The question asked by the strong angel (Revelation 5:2) reverberated throughout the throne room of God.  But the scroll held in the right hand of God remained unclaimed and unopened.  It appeared that no one was worthy of the task at hand.  The prospect of such failure causes John no little distress.  He weeps openly because no one could be found who was worthy enough to open the scroll and reveal its contents.

            But all is not lost!  There is an Overcomer Who steps forward to claim the scroll from the hand of God.  This Lion from Judah, this Root of David, this bloodied Lamb has provided abundant proof of His worthiness.  Through His sacrificial death, He overcame the power of sin and death and paid the price for the sins of all who turn to Him in faith.  Then He takes these saved ones and forms a kingdom of priests who will one day share His reign.  There is only One in all of human history Who fits this description -- Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

            I am so grateful for a Worthy One!  Why is that?  Because I know of my own unworthiness.  Like others before me (Matthew 8:8; Luke 5:8; 15.19; John 1.27), I am keenly aware of my own failings.  Even my “good days” pale in comparison to the One Who is truly worthy.  But, thankfully, that’s not the end of the story!  If my faith is in the One Who is worthy, I can be made worthy in the sight of God.  Not on the basis of who I am or what I have done, but on the basis of Who He is and what He has done.

            I join the innumerable heavenly host as the well as the rest of creation in praising the Worthy One!  “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).

God loves you!

Mike

Casting Our Crowns

            In chapter 4 of Revelation, John is given a visionary glimpse into the very throne room of God.  He has the difficult task of describing heavenly realities in human language.  The first sight that demands his attention is God Himself, seated on His throne.  What he sees is best characterized in terms of brilliant colors and symbolic images.  Surrounding God’s throne are twenty-four more thrones -- occupied by twenty-four white-clad and golden-crowned elders.  Lightning and thunder, symbolic of the great power and glory of God, radiate outward from the Divine Presence.  In close proximity to the throne are seven lamps of fire, signifying the Holy Spirit.  Also around the throne are four bizarre heavenly attendants, called living creatures in the NASB.  Their full-time job appears to be offering praise and worship to God.  Near the end of the chapter, these creatures launch into a praise chorus, prompting the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves before the throne of God.  What an amazing scene!

            The imagery in this chapter is indeed intense.  But as I worked my way through the chapter, I was especially impressed by one particular image.  As the supporting cast in the vision offer their praise to God, the twenty-four elders are pictured as casting their own crowns before the throne of God.  The fact that they had their own crowns imply some level of personal power and authority in the overall scheme of things.  But each one willingly surrenders his own crown in humble deference to the One who wields ultimate power and authority.  Amazing!

            While I don’t have a literal crown to cast before the Ultimate King, I pause to reflect upon my own submission before God.  Do I trust and honor Him enough to willingly cast before Him what is valuable in my own “realm” of influence -- things like my marriage, my family, my friends, my livelihood, or my future?  As important as each of these are, do I grasp them so tightly that I can’t surrender each of them to the One who values them more than I do? 

God loves you!

Mike

God Isn't Done Yet

“Many people find beetles and bugs somewhat creepy, but there’s one beetle in the world that could turn you into a beetle lover – the jewel scarab. Jewel scarabs live in the jungles of Honduras and have the shape of your regular Christmas beetle. But their colours are so dazzling and beautiful that they can sell for up to $500 a beetle. Beautiful flaming reds, bright golds, silvers that resemble bright, shiny chrome. Even the beetle hater finds jewel scarabs dazzling and beautiful!
            “But the jewel scarab’s beauty doesn’t come automatically. Every scarab has modest, even ugly beginnings. The scarab starts life as a soft, mushy, grey-white grub growing inside a rotting tree stump. They spend their life like this for around a year, until finally, when the rainy season arrives, the adult scarabs emerge soft bodied and pale. The within hours, their bodies harden and their splendid colours show. They only live for another three months, but what a glorious existence it is.”*
            Is there something about yourself that you don’t consider very beautiful or attractive?  Most of us can probably think of something about our physical appearance that we would like to change.  But I want you to think about more than just external matters.  It could be an ugly attitude that embarrasses us.  Or maybe words or actions that have brought shame to our lives.  Perhaps our relationships are a mess.

Take heart!  As the saying goes -- God isn’t done with us yet!  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13).  God specializes in taking the damaged, embarrassing, shameful, and ugly parts of our lives and reworking them for His purposes.  If we surrender our lives to His reworking, the results can be dazzling and beautiful!

God loves you!

Mike

*Scientific information from National Geographic, Feb 2001; storiesforpreaching.com