To be honest, this past week was a very emotion filled week for me and to say my mind was occupied with other thoughts is an understatement. My 18 year old cat Lucy died on Tuesday and has had a bigger effect on me than I had anticipated. When I was reading through Darrell and daily through Rev. 8-11 I struggled to understand why God would give this revelation to John, why God would have me reading his revelation as a part of this study, why right now. However, Darrell brought it home with the concluding statements on the last page of the chapter. I simply want to share what really tugged on my hear while reading:
"Good? Judgement is good news? Yes, it is. For judgement says God cares. Judgement says we and our choices matter to God. Judgement says God take evil and sin seriously. Judgement says God is not indifferent to, not tolerant of, evil and sin. Judgement says that God moves against evil and sin." (193)
"The harsh realities of history sound the alarm that "something is wrong," and we had better get it right. The harsh realities of history sound the alarm that :you are going down the wrong road," and you had better turn around." (195)
"'God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.' Can you hear it? It is being screamed from every corner of the globe. 'Something is wrong; something is off. You are ignoring me and my ways. You are headed for destruction. Turn around.'" (199)
And then the last page:
"But there is a way through all of this. Jesus has made a way. He is the Lamb, slain for our sin. He can lead us back on track. The way back is to run toward God. Yes, run toward the One who has the right to judge, and you find a Lamb ready to receive you. Then to follow him. The way to life is the way of costly obedience, to follow Jesus, come what may."
"The seals showed the suffering church pleading for justice to be done. But the trumpets show the wicked wold being offered mercy. The offer is not accepted, and the world will not in fact repent: but let it never be said that God had not done all in his power, even to the devastation of his perfect earth, in order to being men and women to their senses." (200)
Reid has taught me - However low you have stooped, Christ stooped lower. This truth applies to the suffering and groaning of God's creation. I sometimes think, "Geez, God why rip a hole in your own creation?" When I say this, I am forgetting that the suffering of creation tears first and foremost at the very heart of God (far more than it does mine.) When I think about how God's heart breaks for this world, I move from judging God (why the pain?) to compassion/mercy (how can I serve?) I move from hey God, what's wrong with you? to HELLLOO Steve, why aren't you stopping to serve the last and the least?
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