Do you feel ready to discover truth right about now? God’s unchanging, unveiled truth?
Revelation presents the good news of Jesus more powerfully than any gospel. But most importantly, as one of my favorite authors, Darrell Johnson explains it in his book on Revelation, “Discipleship on the Edge,” “No other book helps us see him in a way that overcomes our fears and frees us for radical faith.” He also says, “The last book of the Bible calls us to a radical discipleship, to all-out courageous loyalty to the Lamb in a world ‘feverishly worshipping the beast.'”
Throughout the book, John says “look” and “I saw” (40 times), and “I heard” (32 times). We are to listen and look. We are to pay attention to what is being revealed.
When John describes encountering Jesus in Revelation Chapter 1, verses 17-18 here’s what he says happens, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
In Discipleship on the Edge, Johnson says, “Jesus has stolen the weapon of fear. Fear is a powerful force. Fear can keep us from doing what is right: and it can make us do what we know is wrong. All fear is firmly rooted in the fear of death. The fear of criticism, the fear of rejection, the fear of financial loss, the fear of pain – they are all, at rock bottom, the fear of death. Let the imagery grab you! ‘I have the keys of death.’ No one has them. ‘I am alive… and I have the keys.'”
It is when we fully grasp the “end game,” the unveiled truth, that we begin to let go of the hold this world has on us. To let go of fears. To live with purpose.
Johnson also says these powerful words, “Because John, the pastor knows that if we can just see the full reality of the present, then we will have the courage to overcome the powers of the age, and we will then follow Jesus Christ with reckless abandon.
Let me repeat that: “that if we can just see the full reality of the present, then we will have the courage to overcome the powers of the age, and we will then follow Jesus Christ with reckless abandon.”
What holds us back from following Jesus with reckless abandon?
I believe it is because we have one foot in this world and one foot in the kingdom of God. We hold onto what we think is control, what brings us happiness and hope: our job, family, financial security, health, or recreation.
A couple of weeks ago, I had my own revelation of sorts. It had been a rough week. On Saturday morning, I went for a long walk. My heart was heavy. I was on the verge of tears, and I rarely cry.
Too many things troubled me. I was disconnected with my husband over something from days earlier, which always leaves me feeling less than whole. I had been thinking through the reality that I had poured my life into raising our four boys only to launch them and watch them fly away as they are suppose to, but somehow the investment seemed unequal at this point. The corruption of leadership in our government, the growing concern over who to trust, and the isolation from friends and family led to my heart breaking.
I ended up walking to Finkbiner Park, a familiar place I’ve gone to since I was a young girl; to think, journal, picnic, play, or have a serious talk with someone. It was mid-morning on a Saturday, but the park was empty. It was surreal really. What should have been a busy park day with families, birthday celebrations, and kids playing… it was instead oddly quiet. I stood to watch the water trickle down through the wash, as tears fell down my cheeks.
I realized as I prayed and basked not only in the warmth of the sun, but in the presence of the Father, how fragile life is. Even the best of relationships are unpredictable and stressful. Our economy can be strong and stellar one day, and historically devastated the next. We can have our health and lose it in a heartbeat. The new car that thrills us may crash at any time. Everything is fragile. Life is fragile.
So I asked myself, why do I hold on to it all so tightly? Why do I rebel against God – thinking I may lose something if I just surrender and abandon myself to Jesus? If I let God be God and I choose to be fully His all the time?
John tells us in Revelation to “listen” and “look.” If I can just see the unseen reality of what is going on around us, I’d be able to trust and obey Jesus in my life, instead of having such a hard time.
Jesus Christ is everlasting. He is my redeemer, my hope, my peace, and my future. It makes no sense to hold onto a world which is tragically broken, and strive for control which I clearly do not possess.
The God of the universe is in control and I am a child of God. I awakened in a new way that Saturday morning to the fact that this world is fleeting and not my home. As I stood on the grass overlooking the flowing water, I opened my hands and let it go. I released the grip the things of this world has had on me, and felt myself move closer to God.
Join me tomorrow as I conclude this portion of the journey with “Unveiled Truth” Part 3.
Study Sources:
*A year study through: “A life-changing encounter with God’s Word from the book of REVELATION,” Life Change Series
*Discipleship On the Edge An Expository Journey Through The Book Of Revelation by Darrell W. Johnson
*“The End of the Beginning – a study of Revelation” Pastor Jeff Vines, Christ Church of the Valley, 14 part sermon series
*https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Rev/Rev-1.cfm?a=1168001
*The Story The Bible as one continuing story of God and His People NIV, Foreword By Max Lucado & Randy Frazee
*Daniel For You by David Helm
*Daniel – Bible Study, Lives of Integrity Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore
Thank you for sharing what God is doing in your heart, Leann! I appreciate it, and have several connections. I, too, and learning how to be a parent of adult children. I, too, am learning about being a ‘tent dweller’ here. This is not my home. My ultimate fulfillment, and satisfaction will not be found in things here. I am fulfilled in Christ alone. I am learning that He alone, is enough. I look forward to reading tomorrow! 🙂