Safely Through

Safely Through

Revelation 7: ¹³ One of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?”
¹⁴ “I don't know, sir. You do,” I answered.
He said to me, “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ That is why they stand before God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will protect them with his presence. ¹⁶ Never again will they hunger or thirst; neither sun nor any scorching heat will burn them, ¹⁷ because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 

============

 

Hearing the announcement did not put my mind at ease. “This is your captain speaking. We will be experiencing some turbulence. Fasten your seatbelts.” The message came suddenly and the flight attendants scurried to their seats. A few minutes later, the plane shook violently and did a sudden dip!

 

• I was alarmed a little when I heard the warning.
• I was more alarmed when I saw how fast the flight attendants ran to their seats.
• I was even more alarmed when the plane went through the turbulence, but afterwards things got calm.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, is asked a rhetorical question from one of the twenty-four elders who sits before GOD’s throne. “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?” He is given an unexpected answer. “These are the people who have come safely through the terrible persecution”

 

My Observations:

• GOD is with me when I am persecuted.
• Persecution for preaching JESUS is seen by GOD and HE allows me to go through it, not around it.
• Coming safely through persecution means I can receive the benefits of GOD’s protection.

 

Going through difficult times stinks! I mean, who wants to face persecution from people who could care less about GOD? Unfortunately, this is a reality that believers must face. Persecution cannot be prayed away or wished away, because even JESUS went through it.

 

HE faced persecution from HIS own creation who murdered HIM for HIS love and kindness. HE sent a COMFORTER, because HE knew we would need comfort from persecution. The HOLY SPIRIT is there to stand with me when I face turbulent times.

 

Challenge

• What encouraging message did the writer get from the conversation?
• Have you ever felt like asking “Why me?” when facing a difficult time?
• Will you know that GOD is going through the difficult time with you and is giving you the strength to hold on so you can make it “safely through” the turbulence of life today?

Coming out of Hiding

Luke 1: ²³ So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. ²⁴ Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵ “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

============

“How’s the job search coming?” were the innocent yet increasingly annoying words from the community. Wanting to express their concern and solidarity was nice, but there were no jobs to be had in this extreme period of unemployment. “I just want to hide” were my thoughts.

• There were times when I just wanted to hide.
• There were times when I was ashamed and frustrated.
• There were times when I wanted everything to be as everyone expected but they were not.

Whether it was traditional or not, Elizabeth hid herself differently than others. She may have had years and years of innocent people asking “Do you have kids?” as their first question. She may have had mixed emotions about this miracle baby as she moved herself away from the community for the last five months of her pregnancy. She could have been delighted and nervous, but for years prior, she carried herself with GOD’s peace.

• GOD says to me “I will take care of you.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid of humans, but fear the LORD your GOD.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be anxious for I have many promises for you.”

Walking in a spirit of peace is not always easy when those around me are anxious. BUT GOD gives me something to handle them and me, namely peace. GOD tells me to calm people down in the middle of storms and when I do, I in turn get calmed down.

HE wants me to show people that what is more important than their anxious question is my relationship with the living GOD. The peace that comes from HIM draws others to HIM and that is the mission HE gives me when I am in a trial.

• Are people asking you their anxious questions?
• Are you getting frustrated with their nervousness and disbelief?
• Will you stop trying to gain their approval and seek to calm them down by telling them you are related to the all-powerful GOD who takes care of you everyday?

End of the Trial

Matthew 28: ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

============

“I finished!” was my exclamation as I put the last words on my last “final” test. College was grueling and I was now finished! I breathed a sigh of relief and was ready to tell everyone! I mean this was great news, well at least to me!

• When the trial is over I feel elated!
• When the trial is complete I feel alive!
• When the trial is over I feel so relieved that I want to tell everyone about coming through my trial!

“Will this trial ever finished?” was my thought on so many occasions. I mean some trials lasted a day, some weeks, some years, while others stretched into decades. When I was through the trial, however, I wanted everyone to know.

The trial was over for humanity. JESUS rose from the dead and the angel said “Do not be afraid.” When the women saw JESUS, HE said the same thing, “Do not be afraid”. Then HE said “Go tell…”

• JESUS wants me to tell people “HE rose from the grave just like HE said HE would.”
• JESUS wants me to tell others “HE loves you and cares deeply for you.”
• JESUS wants me to tell everyone I can “HE wants to be with you forever.”

Overcoming death itself solves the biggest fear of humanity. I don’t mean other fears won’t be larger than death at some point in our lives. I mean everyone will face their own mortality at some point and JESUS knew people would be afraid.

HE wants people to have comfort that HE overcame death and so can you and I. This is exciting news that I can tell many people and be happy about it!

• Are you going through a trial?
• Do you remember coming through any other trials in your life?
• Can you start practicing your excitement by praising GOD in spite of your situation?