Two days ago, a dear friend went to be with Jesus. She was in her nineties and nearly a year ago had a stroke that kept her in bed and not able to do much but smile. My reaction to the news was first tears — I’d wanted to see her once more — then strangely great joy. This verse came to mind from Romans 8:18. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” as the Lord reminded me of where she is, in glory with Him — and I will see her again!
Today’s word is WORTHY. My friend loved Jesus, never considered herself worthy of being loved by Him but knew she was. She was strong in faith and often declared it. She also lived it. One time I told her my foot was sore and she got down on the floor, put her hands on it and prayed that God would fix it. She would say, “God did it, now act like it.”
David was like that. In 2 Samuel 22:4 he said, “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies” — such an important truth that it is repeated in Psalm 18:3 and throughout Scripture.
Before Jesus came, John the baptizer declared: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11–12)
Jesus proved His worth in all that He said and did. His words are always true, words of life. His actions reflect the power of Almighty God, worthy of our praise and evidence of His worth, yet “though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.” To rationale thought, this is bizarre. It is like blaming an innocent baby for waking you up in the night, or blaming your doctor for telling you what is wrong with you. Yet this response to the great worth of Jesus Christ shows the great depth and influence of sin; it permeates every part and every faculty of humanity.
Jesus came to change that. His life, death and resurrection prove that He is worthy and able to give new life and to put to death sin and its power. His resurrection is a great glory, like nothing that ever happened before yet happens to all who put their faith in Him. My friend is in glory because Jesus is worthy!
While she was here and while I am here, we are told to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” because “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses (Inferring the Law)— as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” And someday, together we will sing with a heavenly choir:
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Yet now there are limitations. Do I realize the fullness of His worth? The angels had their concerns as did John when he saw the need for someone worthy:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Jesus resolved their concerns and “They sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 4:11: 5:1-5; 9-10)
This written glimpse of glory fills my heart with joy as I imagine this scene that includes myself, my friend, my parents and sister and all others who worship the One who is worthy who is standing before us and welcoming us into His eternal kingdom to reign forever with Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment