Passionately Patient

12 Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus. 13 I heard a voice out of Heaven, “Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.”  (Revelation 14:12-13 The Message)

Observation:

War in the heavens between the forces of evil and the forces of good; cataclysmic events on earth – earthquakes, winds, fires, and floods; deception of all who reject Jesus Christ; persecution to the death of those who put their faith in him...

What John saw filled his mind with vivid images of death and destruction.  It must have pushed his imagination to the limit.  We are accustomed to images of disaster, war, explosions and fire – accompanied by THX surround sound.  As I read these chapters today, I tried to picture what God showed John projected on an IMAX screen with ground-rumbling bass and ear-splitting highs.  I think it would be quite an experience even for the most experienced action/special effects viewer.

Then I thought about the fact that whatever God showed John and however John interpreted what he saw, it represents what is actually going to take place in heaven and earth – all true, all real, and all going to actually happen.

Application:

What should God’s people do?  What are Christ-followers to do when events play out in our world over which we have no control?  I think we are to remain passionately patient – serving, praying, worshiping, and witnessing.  I think we are to patiently trust the outcome of everything to the one who knows for sure how it all works out in the end.

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.”

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for the assurance that you are God after all and that you have determined and will control the ultimate outcome of history.  Help me to be passionately patient and do my part.  Amen.