My Morning Meal

So, I’m reading Revelation 7. I’ve read it a more than a few times before over the course of the years . . .so it’s not like it’s unfamiliar ground. But something happened this morning, which often happens, but which, nevertheless, always amazes me. This morning, I noticed something that I have never noticed before. And it’s not that I am amazed that I had missed something . . . no, that’s not such a rare occurrence . . . not the brightest bulb often. No, the amazing part is that I think I noticed this . . . for the first time . . . this morning . . . because the One who leads us into all truth, the Teacher dwelling within me, decided that this morning was a good time to bring it to my attention.

So, here’s what I noticed. I’m reading of the 144,000 servants who will be sealed, and thus protected, during the tribulation. These 144,000 are “of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev. 7:4). And I start reading through the list . . . Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher . . . yeah, yeah . . . it’s kind of easy to get to a point and skip over it . . . 12 tribes of Israel, right, got it. But, for some reason, I don’t skip over the list but read through it. And then I notice that Joseph’s name is listed here. And I think, “Wait a minute . . . if Joseph’s here, then who’s not here?” You see, what I recalled is that Joseph gave his blessing and his place to his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim . . . making 13 tribes . . . and that, because they had no inheritance, Levi is omitted . . . thus, twelve tribes.

But Joseph’s here . . . and then I go back and see Manasseh’s in the list . . . and so I pull up a listing of the twelve tribes from Genesis 49 and after my little audit I realize that Levi’s included too . . . but that Ephraim’s missing . . . and Dan’s missing. And the thought that forms is, “Where’s Dan?” How come the tribe of Dan (and Ephraim) are not here?

And I don’t know how come? It’s not intuitive to me. But what I do know, is that their names are not here . . . they’re not represented in this sealing . . . for this purpose, at least, they are not included . . . not on the roll . . . not invited to the party.

It’s at this point that I pull out my two one-volume commentaries sitting on my desk for a little help (maybe I should have prayed about it and asked the Holy Spirit to reveal it to me directly . . . but that’s another devotional thought . . . ). And, it seems, the most common speculation is that it may be because these tribes were among the first to plummet into idolatry. I don’t know . . . what I do know, is they are not here.

At first I think, maybe it’s like their names have been dropped from the Book of Life . . . and God’s disowned them forever. But, as I look at the the different listings of the 12 tribes, in Ezekiel 48 I think I see both Dan and Ephraim mentioned in describing some of the aspects of the millennial kingdom . . . so it’s not like they are gone forever. So what’s the deal?

And here’s where I am at on this, at least for right now. How easy is it to presume that because I was “on the list” once, I’ll always be on the list. Now I’m not talking about the Book of Life and the list of who’s saved . . . once we’ve been given to Jesus by the Father, He loses none . . . so that’s not the list. But I’m thinking about those “lists” where God determines to bless a fellowship . . . or to do something in the midst of a group . . . or raise up a ministry team to accomplish some purpose of His . . . and because we were “on the list” before we figure we will be again . . . but, because of neglect, complacency, compromise, or sin, we find that we’ve been excluded. Does that make sense?

I probably have some thinking to do on this to properly form the thought, but for right now, I’m just feeling that I don’t want to take for granted that my name will be on “the list” because it’s been on “the list” before. God will assemble His “lists” in His sovereign will and grace and that might not include me, and that’s ok. But to be excluded because of presumption or complacency . . . that kind of causes me to shudder.

Father, I don’t know if I’m exactly getting what the Spirit is teaching this morning, but I do sense that noticing that Dan’s not on the list is no accident. And the thought of presuming on Your grace, or resting on some past blessing or victory, is a warning to me, and fuels my desire to pursue the things of God. By Your grace, keep me from disqualifying myself from those “lists” You want to put me on . . . for my blessing . . . for Your glory . . . amen.

It occurs to me this morning that when Jesus “made Himself of no reputation” and took “the form of a bondservant” and came “in the likeness of men” . . . when He let Himself be “found in appearance as a man” and “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Php. 2:7-8) . . . that He was entering into an eternal humility. This was not some temporary identification with the lost creation, but was an act that would define Him throughout eternity.

I’m reading Revelation in 5 this morning. The Omnicolor glow of Revelation 4 is still fresh as a scroll appears in the hand of “Him who sat on the throne.” The Almighty lifts up the scroll and an angel’s voice echo’s throughout heaven, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” (5:2). And no one, at first, steps forward . . . no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll . . . or even look at it (5:3). But then, behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David . . . He has prevailed . . . He is worthy to take the scroll and unveil its justice (5:5).

And that’s what you kind of expect of Messiah, isn’t it. A Lion . . . mighty . . . powerful . . . awesome to behold. A King . . . after the line of David . . . majestic . . . Possessor of all authority . . . indisputable right to reign. That’s my Lord! But when John looks upon Him, what does he see? “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain . . . ” (5:6).

There in the middle of the glory of heaven . . .with the throne upon which Almighty God is seated, surrounded by winged beasts declaring His holiness, on one side, and the face-planting, worshiping elders on the other . . . in the middle of it all stands the Lion of Judah . . . the Root of David . . . the image of the invisible God . . . the One by whom all things were created . . . the One in whom all things consist . . . the One who is the head of the church . . . the One whom the Father has determined would have the preeminence in all things (Col. 1:15-18) . . . and how is He seen? . . . as a Lamb as though it had been slain.

What does that look like? Physically I know that His face was beaten beyond recognition . . . that His back was laid open with a scourge . . . that His hands and feet were violated with spikes driven through them . . . that His side was pierced with a spear. Yes, He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities (Isa. 53:5), but you’d think that after being resurrected . . . that after ascending to heaven . . . that after having taken His place at the right hand of the Majesty on High . . . that this would somehow be behind Him and He would “go back” to being King of kings and Lord of lords. But, just as He never stopped being the Lion of Judah or the Root of David when inhabited flesh for 33 years, so too, He has taken on Himself an eternal humility as the Lamb that was slain. The King of kings will always be the Lamb that was slain.

And when we behold Him . . . for sure, we will see His majesty . . . we will recognize His power . . . but, we will also behold Him as the Lamb. Visibly, throughout eternity, He will be recognized as the One that was slain. Forever, when we look upon Him, there will be a facet of His being that reminds us of the love of God. Heaven, in all it’s omnicolor glory will not shield the reality of the price paid that we might be purchased for Him . . . nor will we want it to. For it will be blessing beyond imagination to hear “the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands and thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ ” (5:12)

Oh, the eternal humility of Christ . . . forever the Lamb that was slain . . . forever the object of our worship . . . “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (5:13) . . . amen!

It’s pretty much a classic moment . . . when Dorothy opens the door of the house that came crashing down after riding a tornado and she steps out of her black and white Kansas world into the Technicolor world of Oz. Technicolor . . . happening technology in it’s day . . . pretty much taken for granted and forgotten in our day. But as I read Revelation 4 this morning, I too kind of feel like Dorothy looking out that door for the first time . . . not at some man-made Technicolor of Oz . . . but at God created Omnicolor . . . and it causes me to stand wide-eyed as I gaze into heaven’s portal with John.

John is “in the Spirit” as he enters the open door of heaven and the first thing that captures His attention is a throne and the One sitting on the throne. And what impresses Him at once is the color emanating from the One who sits on the throne. The color is like jasper and carnelian. I don’t know much about precious stones, but from what I read, the jasper has the potential to cast of multiple colors while the carnelian, or sardius stone, would have been predominantly a deep red. Whatever the exact array of colors were, you get the sense that they are the visible manifestation of the glory of God.

And around the throne there’s a rainbow . . . a predominantly green rainbow, “in appearance like an emerald.” And I think it too emanates from Him who sits on the throne . . . the throne insufficient to contain the glory of God . . . but the color pouring from it to fill heaven itself.

Whatever the exact colors . . . whatever might be there representative meaning . . . all I know is that to behold the throne is to go into sensory overload. Our eyes will be overwhelmed with trying to process the visible majesty of the One enthroned. But the color intake doesn’t stop there. There are twenty-four elders seated around throne and they are in garments of white and wearing crowns of gold. And before the throne there is a sea of glass which sparkles like crystal. Can you imagine the manifold colors coming off the throne reflecting off the crystal sea before the throne? Neither can I really. I guess that’s what Omnicolor is all about!

Majestic . . . magnificent . . . awe inducing . . . beautiful beyond imagination . . . behold your God!

But the color and visual stimulus is only the beginning. Cue the six-winged living creatures . . . a sight to behold in themselves . . . but it’s not how they look that silences you necessarily, but the sound of their voices as they continually declare, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.” These would seem to be the seraphim of Isaiah 6 . . . declaring the holiness of God. Perhaps that’s where this cacophony of color comes from . . . the holy essence of Lord God Almighty. So you see the color . . . you hear the voices . . . and then the movement of the elders catches your eye . . . as they fall down before the throne . . . casting their crowns before the feet of God as an expression of the Lord’s worthiness to receive all glory and honor and power.

Can you imagine it? Can you take it in? Maybe not fully . . . but, to some degree . . for Omnicolor is ours to behold as well. “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (1Cor. 2:9-10). The same Spirit which transported John into this heavenly kaleidoscope, indwells us as believers and, as we read these Scriptures, He will reveal to us too, in some measure, the beauty of God’s holiness and the glory of His majesty.

Though, for now, we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, the day is coming when we will see everything with perfect clarity (1Cor 13:12 NLT). The sights and sounds of heaven will be ours to behold “face to face.” And like John, the first thing that will capture our attention is the throne . . . and the Omnicolor of Him who sits on it . . . and like the elders, we’ll fall facedown and give Him all the glory. Can’t wait . . .

This past Saturday night I went with Jess, Jeneale, and their friends to a hockey game. Kind of a big deal . . . haven’t done that since we moved down here. One of the guys had never been to a hockey game so everyone was pretty pumped. And then, when we get there and walk in we’re each given a box. Who knew? It was mascot bobble-head night! Bonus! After the game the kids talked about where they were going to display such a prized trophy. Kind of crazy, but it came to mind as I read this morning something which Jesus said the to the church in Philadelphia.

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

In a word, the church in Philadelphia was faithful. They weren’t a mega-church with tons of resources, in fact, Jesus says they had “a little strength.” But with what they did have, and given the door opened to them by the Lord, they were faithful in keeping His word, and not denying His name though it would cost them. They persevered . . . and for that Jesus commended them. (3:8,10)

And so “He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (3:7) encourages them to hold fast such that no one would take their crown. The crown, not being their salvation, but being a trophy given to the faithful and righteous. Literally, the word is “wreathe” . . . and referred often to the prize given to victors in public games. It was also presented as an expression of honor or rank. And these believers in Philadelphia had one . . . and were to keep a tight grip on it so that no one would seize it. It was a trophy to be held on to . . . a prize to be valued.

We didn’t go to the hockey game in order to receive a prize . . . and we don’t serve Jesus to receive a prize either. We’ve already gained eternity through the blood of Jesus . . . what more could He give or we gain. But, having said that, just as we received a “bonus” for being among the first 3,000 to enter the arena, so too Jesus, the holy and true One, determines to give out prizes to those who are faithful . . . and, I sense, these crowns are to be valued above any earthly reward.

Unlike our salvation, these crowns can be lost. Either through neglect or compromise or complacency, this prize for a fight well fought can be stolen away. Ours then, is to hold fast . . . not to the crown . . . but to the One who determines to give such honors. It is not the trophy we cherish, but the Giver. It is not the wreathe we pursue, but the faith . . . wanting to live in obedience to the call we’ve received in Christ. We hold fast when we remain faithful. We secure the crown when we steadfastly determine, by the grace of God, to walk in the Spirit through the doors Jesus has opened.

And what will we do with these crowns? The bobble head might go on a desk . . . or a shelf . . . or a car dashboard . . . as reminder of a great night . . . but I don’t think we’ll be placing these crowns in some trophy case as a testament to our faithfulness. I’m guessing we’ll take our lead from the twenty-four elders who are seated around the throne of God and also have a symbol of honor upon their head . . . crowns of gold (Rev. 4:4). And, when heaven is stirred to rise up to give glory and honor and thanks to God Omnipotent!, these twenty-four elders “fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne” (4:9-10). The honor they had received, they return to the King . . . the “well done” they had heard from Him, they re-direct back to the throne as a “to You be the glory!”

Isn’t that the real motivation for contending for the crown . . . for holding fast to this prize given by Jesus for faithfulness? Isn’t so that we would have something to place at His feet . . . to give Him all the honor . . . to ascribe to Him all the glory . . . for His faithfulness and grace in saving us and then enabling us to, in some measure, please Him through faithfulness. Oh, what a prize . . . what a trophy . . . what a King! To Him be glory . . . amen!

“You just slip out the back, Jack . . . Make a new plan, Stan . . . You don’t need to be coy, Roy . . . Just get yourself free . . . Hop on the bus, Gus . . . You don’t need to discuss much . . . Just drop off the key, Lee . . . And get yourself free . . . There must be fifty ways to leave your lover” (Paul Simon, 1975)

This song from my high school days came to mind as I was reading Revelation 2 . . . you probably can guess why. The church of Ephesus was a happenin’ place. They worked and labored hard for the Lord . . . had lots of Bible studies and knew their Word . . . had no tolerance of false teaching and called fake messengers of God out for what they were — liars. They faithfully and patiently kept on keepin’ on, not growing weary, as they served Jesus.

Things were looking good . . . but He who walks in the midst of the churches (Rev. 1:20, 2:1), had something against them . . . something they had to deal with . . . “Nevertheless,” says the Lord, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). And as I think about it, there really must be 50 ways to leave your lover.

They were doing the works . . . they were standing for the faith . . . and, I think, it was more than just going through the motions . . . I think they were sincere and serious about their faith. But, apparently you can do all the right stuff and not do it from the right place. You can do it as part of routine . . . you can do it because you think it earns heavenly brownie points . . . you can do it ’cause your friends are doing it. But Jesus, it seems, wants us doing it out of “first love.”

All the right stuff we do, we should be doing because we are crazy in love with Jesus. It shouldn’t be just a “good habit” . . . it shouldn’t be just a “spiritual discipline” . . . it shouldn’t be just a “good testimony” . . . it shouldn’t be just about “doing the right thing ’cause it’s right thing to do” . . . it should be an offering poured out from a heart that loves Him because He first loved us.

And I don’t know how you read this and not think that passion is part of the deal. Though it may be orthodox . . . or biblical . . . passionate-less Christianity falls short of what I think the Savior wants from His people. And I don’t think we need to manufacture the passion or put it on . . . I think it resides within us. The issue is that we’ve found ways to leave our lover . . . or, to use a more biblical phrase, quench the Holy Spirit . . . to put out His fire (1Thess. 5:19).

We can do the Christian good works and not pursue feeding the fire of an intimate relationship with Jesus through the indwelling Spirit. We spend time at church . . . spend time at seminars . . . spend time reading books . . . spend time serving at this ministry or that ministry . . . but not spending time with the one to whom we are betrothed. When we’re away from the church activities or ministries we’re opting for the TV . . . or the computer game . . . or the hobby . . . over time with Him. Faithful in Christian works . . . but flakey in pursuing Christ. He wants us to serve Him out of a vital and passionate and crazy in love relationship with Himself . . . I don’t know how you do that without alone time with Him and His word. Oh, that we would desire to love Him . . . and pursue our relationship with Him. That we would hear the voice of our Beloved calling us back to intimate fellowship with Himself . . . that we would beware of and say no to all the ways to leave your lover.

Oh, how I love Jesus . . . forgive me Father for allowing other things to distract me from Him . . . keep me from just faithfully going through the motions, but may everything I do for Him, truly be born out of a Spirit-filled love for Him. Thank you for Your patience with me . . . thank You for your grace . .. thank You for calling me back to Yourself through Your word.