Peace that makes no sense

Deuteronomy 10; Psalm 94; Isaiah 38; Revelation 8

This week I’m feeling like God’s spoiled brat, not deserving His blessings yet filled with His peace, even as we read the news and watch the disasters happening in the world. Talking to friends and neighbors, I realize that many people are fearful, filled with anxiety, and fretting about social isolation and many other events as if these are the worst tragedies possible. I’m not always sure what I should say to them.

It is true that many North Americans have had years of peace and prosperity. A generation or more have no idea what it is like to make-do, to struggle from day to day without food or income, or to live with few resources. The younger people today did not experience hardship like those who lived during the two great wars or other pandemics and plagues. Spoiled brats come to mind. Some complain that they have nothing to do, as if it is the worst possible thing that could happen. Others riot in the streets over one unjust act yet thousands of unjust acts are committed every day. Most of them never reach social media yet people suffer, such as millions of children forced into labor or the sex trade.

Today I read about a future judgment. No one knows when it will happen, but as with all biblical prophecies, I know it will happen. God’s record of fulfilled predictions stands at 100%. This one puts our current situation into perspective:

The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” (Revelation 8:8–13)

The latest data I can find says Covid-19 deaths are about 5% of the population, not anywhere near the numbers in this scary passage. Even more staggering is the realization that 100% of the population will eventually die, virus or not. Heart attack, stroke, or not. Hit by a truck or not. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

These thoughts are not intended to increase the fear but to bring an eternal perspective to the daily headlines. Because death is a certainty, regardless of how it happens, doesn’t it make more sense to focus on that issue?

Trusting Jesus Christ for salvation erases that fear. He forgives sin and grants eternal life to all who put their faith in Him. This is an incredible thing, better than an antidote, antivirus, an aspirin a day, and staying out of traffic. It is not a popular choice, now or in the past. The psalmist struggled with foes and the daily battle against sin, but he could say:

Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:16–19)

Not all Christians are in the frontlines against evil yet all of us battle the source of it and in this battle, we have God’s incredible promises. As Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And as John echoed, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

APPLY: When I watch the news, emotions grip me almost as if I am there — in the struggles and sorrows, but the peace of God will not let me stay there. Jesus keeps His promises, those about peace and those about judgment. His steadfast love is holding me up and His consolations cheer my soul.

 

 

Praising God in the darkest times . . .

The many facets of God are impossible to describe. For centuries, all attempts fall short. We cannot grasp how a God who proves His love by sending His Son to die for us is also a God of wrath who punishes those who reject His love.

It helps me a tiny bit to imagine patiently caring for someone who spurns me at every turn throughout life, who is angry at everything I do, who curses and mocks me until their dying breath. As a human being, would I send that person into a blessed eternity? Or would that person get what they gave — rejection and separation from me and from any goodness I could have shown them?

Another helpful clue is remembering what true goodness is. Many people tend to think that humans are basically good. However we do not measure the same God measures. He determines my ‘goodness’ by what I think and do about Him and toward Him. He is my Creator (I did not evolve from a monkey) and has every right to ask me to live up to His expectations. He created me to trust Him, love Him and think with a sound mind. I failed. Without the grace and mercy shown in sending Jesus to take His wrath for my sinful selfishness, I would be in the crowd described in Revelation as unrepentant and wicked.

Today sections I am reading are so awful, yet if I could see humanity and the hearts of sinners as clearly as I see my own waywardness and propensity to resist God, I would have to admit that wrath is deserved and His judgment is just. Reading all of this seems so terrible, yet even in the vast horrors of it, God reveals those who are victorious and come out on His good side.

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:2–4)

During this outpouring of wrath, some will resist all pressure to join the powers of evil. They suffered because of it, but that suffering and a martyr’s death is nothing because they remained true to God and triumphed. Their destiny was not eternal separation but eternal blessing in the presence of the Lord and in the company of all who say YES to Jesus Christ. He calls them conquerors.

This is the practical application for me today. I am under attack constantly. As I pray, which is what God gives me to do, the enemy wants me discouraged, upset with slow answers, distracted, anything to stop my dedication to the Lord who hears and answers prayer. The battle is real. At times I just want Jesus to take me home so it will be over. Life is good in many ways but the weakness and spiritual toll in this warfare is no fun at all.

Yet these verses tell me that in doing right and remaining true to God despite the cost, I am a winner and I will triumph. For that reason, I can join in singing their song!

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Lord Jesus, great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. Keep my focus on the assured victory and not on the pain of this present fight.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- an encouraging call from a son who loves you.

- a good workout on my treadmill.

- the joy of giving to others.

- homemade chowder and brie on bread.

- dark chocolate — one bite cures my chocolate cravings.

- assurance again that even in the last days, God will save many!

Do my prayers affect God’s judgment on sin?

It was very early in the morning when I read my Bible today. After that, we left for a funeral in a city that is more than two hours from here. The weather is cold and although our vehicle is reliable and has an amazing heater, I was not looking forward to five hours of driving.

The funeral is for a Christian friend who died from a brain tumor. He knew it was terminal for the past couple of years yet remained calm that his doctors could not remove the tumor and calm about his impending death. Knowing he would be with Jesus was his comfort. He leaves a wonderful wife, four adult children and their spouses, and several grandchildren.

As I read about the end of this world as we know it, his same anticipation should be in my heart. Those who know Jesus will see Him face to face. Yet at the same time, I am in an awe that is hard to describe because the wrath of God against sin is a serious and horrible series of events. It began in chapter six and continues almost to the end of this book called The Revelation.

Several years ago while reading the main section of Revelation, it came to me that the seven seals were a beginning of the Lord’s judgment. Then the seventh seal introduced another series of seven, this time trumpets, and then the seventh trumpet introduced seven bowls. Today I read that others understand these descriptions the same way I do. The trumpets do not double back over the seals, nor do the bowls of wrath double back over the seal and trumpet judgements.

One theologian says: “The series of three sevens are really included in one series of seven, that is, the seven trumpets are included under the seventh seal and the seven bowls are included under the seventh trumpet, so that we have in fact a single series in three movements.”

That is, the seventh seal includes all the events from chapter 8 to 19:10. This affirmation is helpful, but the scenes that unfolded before John are not pretty.

What startles me today is that the prayers of God’s people are tied to His judgments in some way . . .

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:1–5)

As the seven angels blow their trumpets, it seems that some of this is connected to our prayers. Is it prayer for relief during persecutions in those days? Or asking His mercy on all those who experience these events? These verses say “all the saints” so what do all of us pray for? Is it justice on the earth? The end of our battle with sin? Whatever it is, the prayers go to God and the next events are not what most of us expect:

The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” (Revelation 8:7–13)

I’m stopping here. One third of nearly everything is being destroyed or ruined in some way, yet this is not the end of it.

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Lord Jesus, while I hate sin and the way many people mock You, yet this scene is severe and devastating. It challenges me to pray and to think about how You could answer my prayers. It also gives me something to think about. How do I regard sin, death and the fate of those who do the mocking? Show me how to pray regarding this revelation of Your response to the prayers of Your people.  

Today’s thankful list . . .

- Your grace for salvation and protection.

- the blessing of a God-honoring celebration of our friend’s life and Your blessing on his family.

- safety on the road to and from today’s funeral.

- challenges to live a good life and die well.