January 6, 2016 THE WATER OF LIFE
Revelation 21:5-7 “And he who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirst from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
In the book of Revelation, we find the “revelation” that God gave to John concerning the end times-“the things which must shortly take place.” Some have said that this book is difficult to understand, but whether that is true or not, the one who reads and hears what is said in the book of Revelation is blessed according to verse 1:3 where we read: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Either what is said in Revelation is true, or it is not; and we may either believe what we read in Revelation, or we may not believe it. Certainly the word of God is true and the fact is that we must come face to face with what is revealed in the book of Revelation-some sobering truth for sure. In Revelation, we read about angles; a sealed book; living creatures; a star falling to earth; a bottomless pit; and much, much more-a fantastic book of things to come. I’m sure that what John saw was so great and so awesome that words could not express what he saw taking place, and that is why God used images and events, as well as words to give the revelation to John. Even though Revelation is primarily about future events, it also has an urgent message for those alive on planet earth today. There is an over-riding theme in Revelation, and that is that God is well pleased with His Son Jesus, and those who love God and have put their faith and trust in Jesus for their salvation, will not be disappointed, but will be blessed beyond words when they meet God face to face! However, the book of Revelation does have a warning or admonition that demands our full attention. God makes it clear that the ones who will be blessed are those who “overcome”, and those who have made themselves ready for the great marriage supper of the Lamb. Many times throughout the book, we see the phrase: “to him who overcomes.” It is clear, not only in Revelation, but in all of scripture, that God is displeased with luke-warmnness and a life of spiritual mediocrity. If we view the salvation of God merely as a ticket to heaven, then we will suffer loss. God’s plan of salvation begins with being born again, but then God begins the process of transforming us into His image. It is critical that we understand that this transformation process that God has begun, calls for us to work with Him in the process. It is possible for us to resist His work in us, but we do so to our own hurt and loss. Working with God is key to being the overcomer that Revelation talks about so often. To work with God indicates that He is our focus in life; it means that we are seeking Him; that we are obeying Him; that we are finding life in His written word; and that we are taking off the old man and putting on the new man. There is continual celebration in heaven and it is centered on Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave Himself for the salvation of God’s people. From heavens’ perspective, all preparations are complete, and now heaven is waiting for that great day when God calls for the bride to be in His presence. There is a great family reunion in the making; Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father; Satan days or numbered; and we will hear the trumpet sound any time now! So, yes, while we live in this temporary world, we are called to overcome this worlds system. The motivation for being an overcomer is found as we get a view of what’s taking place in heaven-an utterly fantastic place. Instead of us thinking that the book of Revelation is difficult to understand, let us take a fresh look at it and be greatly blessed and encouraged by what we do understand in this fantastic view into our future.
Revelation 19:7: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Revelation 2:7: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: ‘To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’”
Blessings, Buddy
Revelation 21:5-7 “And he who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirst from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
In the book of Revelation, we find the “revelation” that God gave to John concerning the end times-“the things which must shortly take place.” Some have said that this book is difficult to understand, but whether that is true or not, the one who reads and hears what is said in the book of Revelation is blessed according to verse 1:3 where we read: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Either what is said in Revelation is true, or it is not; and we may either believe what we read in Revelation, or we may not believe it. Certainly the word of God is true and the fact is that we must come face to face with what is revealed in the book of Revelation-some sobering truth for sure. In Revelation, we read about angles; a sealed book; living creatures; a star falling to earth; a bottomless pit; and much, much more-a fantastic book of things to come. I’m sure that what John saw was so great and so awesome that words could not express what he saw taking place, and that is why God used images and events, as well as words to give the revelation to John. Even though Revelation is primarily about future events, it also has an urgent message for those alive on planet earth today. There is an over-riding theme in Revelation, and that is that God is well pleased with His Son Jesus, and those who love God and have put their faith and trust in Jesus for their salvation, will not be disappointed, but will be blessed beyond words when they meet God face to face! However, the book of Revelation does have a warning or admonition that demands our full attention. God makes it clear that the ones who will be blessed are those who “overcome”, and those who have made themselves ready for the great marriage supper of the Lamb. Many times throughout the book, we see the phrase: “to him who overcomes.” It is clear, not only in Revelation, but in all of scripture, that God is displeased with luke-warmnness and a life of spiritual mediocrity. If we view the salvation of God merely as a ticket to heaven, then we will suffer loss. God’s plan of salvation begins with being born again, but then God begins the process of transforming us into His image. It is critical that we understand that this transformation process that God has begun, calls for us to work with Him in the process. It is possible for us to resist His work in us, but we do so to our own hurt and loss. Working with God is key to being the overcomer that Revelation talks about so often. To work with God indicates that He is our focus in life; it means that we are seeking Him; that we are obeying Him; that we are finding life in His written word; and that we are taking off the old man and putting on the new man. There is continual celebration in heaven and it is centered on Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave Himself for the salvation of God’s people. From heavens’ perspective, all preparations are complete, and now heaven is waiting for that great day when God calls for the bride to be in His presence. There is a great family reunion in the making; Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father; Satan days or numbered; and we will hear the trumpet sound any time now! So, yes, while we live in this temporary world, we are called to overcome this worlds system. The motivation for being an overcomer is found as we get a view of what’s taking place in heaven-an utterly fantastic place. Instead of us thinking that the book of Revelation is difficult to understand, let us take a fresh look at it and be greatly blessed and encouraged by what we do understand in this fantastic view into our future.
Revelation 19:7: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
Revelation 2:7: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: ‘To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’”
Blessings, Buddy
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