This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It is a clear picture of what our own moment
in the spotlight will look like. Satan
flings charges against Joshua, the high priest, that are clearly true and that
should result in a guilty verdict but the Lord, by fiat, declares him innocent,
fixes the problem and moves on. It is
also a moment that has already occurred for you if you have believed in Jesus
as Savior and Lord. You were guilty, all
that satan said about you was absolutely true, you were filled with sin and
deserved your fate, death. You were dead
already, not just drowning or whatever metaphor you prefer, the Word says you
were dead, there was no real life in you.
You have died with Him and now you are raised with Him because He gave
you a clean garment to wear. You, like
Joshua, are given the same charge to walk in the ways of the Lord and yet you
know something even this high priest didn't know, you know the Branch by name,
Jesus. He has come and He will come
again. That is the Good News.
The faithful and wise servant is set over the household, by
which is clearly meant the rest of the staff.
His obligation is to ensure the staff is well treated and fed so that
they can also do what they have been given to do. It is a high honor to be entrusted with
people rather than things or tasks and it is meant to be done lovingly. How we treat others in the kingdom is
important and there is a symbiotic relationship between pastor/shepherds and
the laity. Both have an obligation to treat
one another well and love one another specially. We are called to love our neighbors but John
in particular noted that our love begins in the household such that others will
see and desire that sort of community.
Where we have failed to love one another in the household we need to
repent in shame.
Can you really imagine what John saw. Look at that passage again and try (unless
you're like me and color blind) to visualize the colors and the throne
itself. Add in the twenty-four other
thrones with their elders in white with golden crowns, lightning coming from
the main throne, peals of thunder and a sea of crystal before them. We don't have anything to which to compare
this other than movies perhaps. The four
living creatures, again, look like something from Star Wars and they cry
without ceasing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty, who was, and
is, and is to come." It would be
disconcerting and frightening all at once and there would be no mistaking what
response would be called forth automatically, fear based in awe. To believe that one such as this, in this
court, could declare us righteous enough not only to enter but to remain with
Him forever is unthinkable. To have this
experience now would probably change us completely. Unless Jesus dies and is resurrected there is
no hope we will be declared innocent.
Ask Him to give you a true picture of your own vindication in
Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment