It is painful to hear the news at the moment. There is violent disorder in the USA. There is coronavirus killing hundreds of thousands across the globe. Our year started with terrible fires in Australia and widespread flooding in the UK, which may be linked to global warming. The war in Syria hasn’t ended.
And that is just the news “out there”. We all have our own pain – be it distressing situations in our families, uncertainties over our employment, concerns about our own health, or something else. And we all have a distressing battle with sin in our own hearts.
Our world is broken; we are broken. It would be easy to be downhearted.
Revelation 5 starts with John in tears (Revelation 5v4): “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside”. This is the scroll containing God’s good plans for his broken world. The world of John’s day was just as broken as ours; could no-one do anything about it?
But hold on, there is one (Revelation 5v5): ‘Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”’
Jesus has triumphed; he will put God’s plans into effect, and they are good (Revelation 5v9-10): ‘And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”’
Our world is broken, but the Lamb who was slain is on the throne. He has triumphed, he is able to take the scroll, open the seals and put God’s plans into effect. And they are good! They are for our salvation; they are for an eternal perfect kingdom.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!
Tim
E. Grainger says
Thank you. Much needed at this time to keep our eyes on Jesus and not the situations. Beautiful song.
Miss Julia Rees says
Thank you Tim! Your word and that song beautifully weaved together to centre our focus on our beloved Jesus the worthy Lamb of God. What a blessing it was! Brought me to tears of worship and praise. Thank you dear brother for always exonerating the name of Jesus and constantly seeking to encourage us your flock. God bless you
Ruth says
You are so right Julia. Bless you
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