Our focus today turns from earth to heaven. Oh what a contrast we see at the end of the book of Revelation in the language of those on earth compared with those who are dwellers in heaven! While on earth there is weeping and wailing (Revelation 18:15,19), the saints and heavenly host are praising The One Who sits upon His throne (Revelation 19:1-6). How we need to remember that this fallen world system is passing away (1 John 2:17), but we serve The Living God Who reigns on high (Psalm 99:1-5). Peter tells us that everything in this universe is one day going to burn (2 Peter 3:10-12), but Our God Himself is the Consuming Fire ruling this universe (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29).
We can so easily get bogged down with this world and the things of it, to the point that we forget Our God sits upon His throne beholding the things on earth (Psalm 11:4). So many times I find myself murmuring and complaining of the providential dealings of God, and in the process I find myself getting burned (Numbers 11:1). I need to realize that as long as I am in this flesh I will only be able to see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). There will be things in my life that I find hard to understand and astonishing (Psalm 60:3). That is where our theology of the character of God is vital (Revelation 19:6). That is one reason why Scripture exhorts us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). To the bewildered and astonished disciples, Jesus put it this way: “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)
Beloved, this side of Glory we are all going to experience the full spectrum of life under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11). We will always deal with temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13) and trials which will test our faith in God (1 Peter 1:6-7). It is only by having a God-ward perspective in life that we will be able to endure those tough times (Genesis 50:15-20; Romans 8:28). The heavenly scene reveals that we have been redeemed by God to worship Him. The highest expression of worship is a life that is totally yielded to God (Romans 12:1,2) in spirit and in truth (John 4:23,24).
Reader, if you have devoted your life to the The Lord Jesus Christ, your times, all of your times, are in His hands (Psalm 31:15a). May the fact that our lives are in the hands of a Faithful and True God (Revelation 19:11, 22:6) give us the confidence that our weeping is but for a season, and eternal joy awaits us (Psalm 30:5). As citizens of the heavenly Kingdom, may the character of God inspire you to worship Him today, despite what you are going through (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
