"Late"

Hi.  If you've just arrived, you're late.  Journey66 was my one-year commitment to post my own journaling in response to time with God's Word so as to encourage you to journal yourself.  That commitment met, I'm going a slightly different direction in my own devotional time this year.  In the meantime, I'm not sure what I'll do with this blog.  I may miss it more than I know and come right back.  I may miss it not at all or use the space to post other items of interest.  Most likely, it'll sit here a bit at least until I get caught up on some other things. 

Let the record show--I've enjoyed the process deeply.  Not just my own journaling, but equally the interaction we've enjoyed around the Word of God.  If the stats are accurate, this blog was viewed over 7,000 times last year--small potatoes for a blog, but amazing to me.  Even more startling, the blog's been accessed by people all over the United States, much of Europe, and even parts of Asia!  Hard to believe for a fellow sitting at a laptop in a small Kansas village.

God's Word is, indeed, "living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).  So, of course, I encourage you to maintain daily intimacy with God and His Word. 

All of last year's posts remain archived here.  You can access them using the links under "Blog Archive" on the bottom half of the left-hand column.  Until we meet again (and yes, of course, even after that), may God richly bless you!

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"You're Invited"

Scripture Passage

Revelation 19:1-22:21

Scripture Focus

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. (Revelation 22:17 NLT)

Observation

I confess once more that I shrink back from the hard and fast declarations many seem willing to make about the apocalyptic visions of Revelation. The details perplex me. But the broad portrait is clear enough for anyone to comprehend.

One thing Revelation promises is justice. The outpouring of wrath recorded in Revelation is not the uncontrolled explosion of an angry god having a really bad day. Rather, it is the measured action of a righteous God who always acts justly. Even after describing quite horrifying plagues, the Scriptures make this clear declaration—“His judgments are true and just” (Revelation 19:2 NLT).

Another priority for Revelation is offering some description of the promised "new heaven and…new earth" (Revelation 21:1 NTL). John’s challenge here was significant—how do you describe what can hardly even be imagined? The heavenly vision continues to stretch beyond the boundaries of human language. The message, however, is clear: The abode of the people of God for all eternity will be remarkable in its beauty and its righteousness.

The closing words of Revelation address a final priority—invitation.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life (Revelation 22:17 NLT).

Could the heart of God be any clearer…any more plain? “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it's all free!” (Isaiah 55:1 NLT) “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink” (Jesus—John 7:37-38 NLT).

What a way to close Holy Writ! What an expression of the heart of God! Could there be sweeter words for a world destined for painful justice apart from God’s grace? How I pray that any who read these words would embrace God’s gracious offer of life eternal!

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"In a Single Moment"

Scripture Passage

Revelation 15:1-18:24

Scripture Focus

“In a single moment it is all gone.” (Revelation 18:19 NLT)

Observation

Chapter 18 opens with a powerful angelic declaration—“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!” (Revelation 18:1 NLT) As a prominent and pagan ancient city, the image of “Babylon” captures all of this world that is built on human strength, human wisdom, and human values—and likewise everything that stands opposed to God. The angelic pronouncement is clear—it’s over. “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!”

The striking thing about this pronouncement is how quickly Babylon crumbles. “In a single moment” becomes a dominant phrase in the chapter. It appears in verse 10—“In a single moment God’s judgment came on you.” It appears in verse 17—“In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone.” And it appears in verse 19—“In a single moment it is all gone” (Revelation 18:10, 17, 19 NLT).

I remember watching the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. How suddenly everything changed! How remarkably fast that which seemed an icon of strength and permanence toppled to the ground, claiming the souls of thousands in a moment. So it will be—on a much broader scale—when this pronouncement is made. “In a flash,” the Bible says, “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52 NIV). All that once seemed so permanent and abiding will be gone.

The frail impermanence of that which seems so enduring is a most-neglected theme these days. Odd that such is the case, given how quickly everything around us is changing. But I shouldn’t be surprised—that’s exactly how Jesus described it: “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26 NIV). Just that quickly—“in a single moment.”

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"His Timing"

Scripture Passage

Revelation 11:1-14:20

Scripture Focus

“Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge.” (Revelation 14:7 NLT)

Observation

There’s a phrase that shows up three times in today’s reading. It captured my attention when I read it in chapter 14, verse 7…

“For the time has come…” (Revelation 14:7 NLT)

It shows up earlier in chapter 11, verse 18—“the time of your wrath has come”—and later in chapter 14, verse 15—“the time of harvest has come.” Those words affirm this reality:

For all the fanstasic imagery of these chapters…for all the questions these verses raise (and those questions they answer)…this simple phrase reminds me that all of this activity never happens by chance. Rather, everything I read in Revelation is being orchestrated by the One who holds all things in His control and who directs history to serve His purpose. My responsibility is to wait patiently for His timing to emerge.

That’s not easy—and will only grow more difficult as God’s plan unfolds. Revelation 13:10 and 14:12 both challenge believers to “endure persecution patiently,” remaining faithful while waiting for “the time” to come. All the details of how and when God’s plan unfolds are not ours to know. Elsewhere in Scripture, believers are reminded that “timing is the Father’s business” (Acts 1:7 MSG). “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7 NIV)

What is knowable—what we can have confidence in—is this: God is so mighty…so powerful…that He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11 NIV). Confident in that—confident in Him—I can leave the timing up to the Father and endure any wait patiently and faithfully, until that day this verse is fulfilled:

“It has come at last—
     salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
     and the authority of his Christ.”
               (Revelation 12:10 NLT)

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"Explosions of Praise!"

Scripture Passage

Revelation 7:1-10:11

Scripture Focus

He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
     And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
                                    (Revelation 7:17 NLT)

Observation

There’s plenty I don’t understand about the book of Revelation. Really—there are people so confident when speaking of Revelation that “this” is “that” and “that” means “this.” Hey—they may be right! I just don’t share their confidence when it comes to speaking so assuredly about things so hidden. But one thing is clear (he said with confidence): John returns again and again to descriptions of explosions of praise for Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

This just happened in chapters 4 and 5, and here in chapter 7 it happens again! I’ve had a taste of that at moments in my life—I’ve been a part of gatherings of the people of God where spontaneous corporate praise was the order of the day—but not often. And certainly not often enough.  That’s too bad—those moments are wonderfully refreshing

Perhaps those times of unfettered praise are too infrequent because we don’t see Jesus for who He is—at least, not as well as these we read about in Revelation. In Chapter 4, John describes in remarkable terms a visionary glimpse of the glory that surrounds God’s throne. In chapter 5, Jesus is praised as the only one worthy to open the scroll, as He is the one who alone gave His life for all humanity—“every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9 NLT). Now, in chapter 7, “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language” stands “in front of the throne and before the Lamb…shouting with a might shout, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9-10 NLT) 

Why all this exuberant celebration of Christ?  About this vast crowd, one of the elders stationed around the throne tells John:

They will never again be hungry or thirsty;
     they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.
For the Lamb on the throne
     will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
     And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
                              (Revelation 7:16-17 NLT)

Sweet, huh? Rockin’! Awesome! I don’t know—you find a word to describe those scenes and those kinds of promises from God. No wonder Revelation explodes again and again with praise. Perhaps today I should, too! You?

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"Buy Gold!"

Scripture Passage

Revelation 3:1-6:17

Scripture Focus

So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. (Revelation 3:18 NLT)

Observation

There’s plenty of talk these days about gold, isn’t there? Talk show gurus, investment specialists, internet pitchmen and dozens of others, I suppose, are encouraging worried Americans to “buy gold.” Believe it or not, Jesus encourages His church to buy gold, as well—but gold from Him—“gold that has been purified by fire” (Revelation 3:18 NLT).

I trust it’s obvious that Jesus is not giving investment advice on how to survive financially in times of economic uncertainty. Rather, Jesus is giving spiritual counsel to people too confident of their own spiritual affluence—people who were spiritually bankrupt and absolutely clueless about their condition. To overconfident believers, Jesus says, “You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17 NLT).

Jesus’ story of the Pharisee and Tax Collector comes to mind. The Pharisee, of course, was all to willing to display his spiritual wealth before God (and anyone else within earshot): “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” The tax collector had a significantly different perspective on his spiritual wealth: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus concluded that parable with these words: “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 NIV).

The point of either passage is certainly not to leave sincere believers uptight or unsure about their spiritual standing. But the irony is that those most confident about their spiritual wealth apparently have the greatest reasons not to be! Bottom line, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:3 NLT).

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"In Your Dreams!"

Scripture Passage

Jude 1:1-25; Revelation 1-2:29

Scripture Focus

…these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. (Jude 1:8 NLT)

Observation

In Jude 1:3, Jude declares that his original intention was to write “about the salvation we all share.” “But now I find,” he says, “that I must write about something else…because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives” (Jude 1:3-4 NLT). “These people,” he writes in verse 8, “claim authority from their dreams” (Jude 1:8 NLT).

Look—there have always been people who take the grace of God too lightly…who act as if God’s grace gives license to live any way we choose. And they’ve always been wrong about that. Jesus extends incredible grace to the woman caught in adultery, but with what admonition? “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11 NIV). Paul addressed the same issue in his letter to the Romans—“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2 NIV) This fundamental truth is repeated again today in Jude. Let there be no doubt about it—the grace of God is no wishy-washy, “anything goes” forgiveness. It is a forgiveness so great, so generous, so rooted in the holiness of God that it rightly demands the response of a righteous, God-honoring life.

What’s captured my attention today is the source of authority for these who abuse the grace of God—it is “their dreams.” I can’t resist saying this: Is it okay to live however you wish once you’ve experienced the grace of God? “In your dreams!”

And building on what we’ve considered the last few days, and on the wonderful truth of the Christmas season, I remind you that we live under a different authority—a greater authority—the authority of the One True God who, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, took on flesh and blood and dwelt among us. Our authority—and our example—is not the false and fleeting impression of a subconscious experience. It is, rather, the living, breathing reality of an incarnate Savior!

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen” (Jude 1:24-25 NLT).

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