I am a huge fan of the book of Revelation – the drama and mystery of it all. There is so much that I do not fully understand but I am oddly okay with that. I am perfectly okay not knowing what I can’t know. One of the mistakes the church makes {in my oh-so-humble opinion} is that we often feel the need to know everything. We want to be able to rationalize and explain and figure out every little thing about an infinite God.
It’s true that, often, my I don’t know really means I have no desire to go into that with you right now. Like when we are reading through Exodus and my daughter asks me what it means that all of the men were to be circumcised. Or when my husband asks me why there is a rubber band through the button hole of my jeans.
Sometimes, however, I don’t know really means I do not have an answer for that. And we need to just get over ourselves and be okay with that. Let there be a little mystery, for crying out loud.
In addition to my goal to Hide the Word in 2015, I’ve been reading through chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation. I find these two chapters GREATLY encouraging because they list the rewards for those who endure – those who carry their crosses boldly to the end. {And, lest we forget, we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37.)} Here is just a little taste of what is to come…
- To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
- The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
- To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)
So far, so good. Am I right?
Then, I read this.
The one who conquers and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. – Revelation 2:26-28
Follow me.
The one who suffers and endures, the one who conquers? That person is to eat freely of the tree of life. That person will not be hurt by the second death. That faithful follower is going to be given hidden manna and a white stone and a new name and authority – the same kind of authority that Christ himself received. Oh, and by the way, that person will be given the morning star.
I’m sorry. Does that not make you want to jump out of your chair? Maybe, we need to flip on over to Revelation 22:16 for a moment.
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root, the descendant of David, the bright morning star.
I, Jesus, am the bright morning star.
I’ve always wondered what the tree of life looked like and what sort of fruit must have been hanging from its limbs. I am a real wimp when it comes to pain, so I’m all about avoiding the whole second death thing. Hidden manna, white stone, new name – it all sounds really, really cool.
But when I have dragged my cross through deep, dark valleys. When I have endured sorrow and suffered through betrayal. When Satan has lied to me, stolen those I love and killed dreams. When my scarred, weary, broken body crosses the finish line – just give me Jesus.
The bright morning star – that is all I want or need.
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Here is your daily readings for Hide the Word – week 3!
January 15: Job 40-42
January 16: Genesis 12-15
January 17: Genesis 16-18
January 18: Genesis 19-21
January 19:Genesis 22-24
January 20: Genesis 25-26
January 21: Genesis 27-29
