FRIDAY
The last couple of days we have been reading through John’s introduction and vision in the first chapter of Revelation. Let’s read through it again and see John’s reaction.
Revelation 1:9-18 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
John falls on his face as though dead. This is a common response to seeing a vision of the glory of the Lord. Daniel does this (Dan. 8:17; 10:9, 15). Ezekiel does this (Ez. 1:28; 43:3). Isaiah cries out thinking he is about to die, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isa. 6:5) This is the appropriate response to seeing the glory of the Lord. It is too much for a human to bear.
This should be our response to the glory of the resurrected king. Awe, wonder at his majesty. We should fall on our faces in worship. He is that glorious. He is that awesome!
But look at Jesus’ response. He is full of power, majesty, splendor, glory and might, yet he stoops. He reaches low with the same right hand that holds the stars and lifts John up, telling him to “Fear not”. John’s fear at his majesty is met with the unequaled kindness and compassion of Jesus.
This is going to be my main point throughout this whole campaign. Whatever your response to this election season is, you need to see the spiritual reality overlaying the material. You need to see Jesus more and politics less. It’s easy to focus your attention on the material, but to remain faithful to Jesus you will need to work at focusing your attention more on the spiritual.
If you’re hating your enemies and even hating your neighbors because they aren’t voting with you, Jesus’ eyes are like flaming fire. He sees; he knows your heart and your heart isn’t following him. If you’re worried about the power of your political opponents, Jesus holds stars in his hands. He rules over angels and creation. His feet are like pillars of bronze. He is able to judge. Nothing will displace him. If you are fearful and anxious, Jesus tells us to fear not, because he is the first and the last. He is the living one. He is alive forevermore, holding the keys to death and Hades. We have eternal life in Christ. What can man do to you? Imagine the worst possible scenario and the best possible scenario. In both instances the end is eternal life with Jesus. So we can live free and fearless.
Additional Content
Reflection
Explore your emotional response to the political scene right now. Are your angry, passionate, fearful, apathetic?
Now put your mind on Jesus and explore your emotional response. You should feel safety, security, humility, hope, longing, and love.
I’d invite you to do this throughout this election season. What is the condition of your soul when you are focused on politics? What is the condition of your soul when you are focused on Jesus? Of course, most of us shouldn’t pay zero attention to politics. But we must pay more attention to Jesus. This is a choice that you can make each day on your ride to work, when you talk with your family and friends, and when you have a moment to reflect in solitude. Put your eyes on Jesus more. It’s better for your soul.