Day 232

Why would God not tell us everything? I have the feeling that we couldn’t handle knowing more than He has revealed. John is told NOT to write down what he heard. This is in contrast to his previous job of recording what he sees and hears. These thundering voices said something, and John had to live with the knowledge of what they said. He was the only one on earth who knew. This can be a lonely spot.

Something very special, unique in fact, is about to happen. What God has promised is going to come to completion. No more waiting. Since the Beginning, God promised that the sin problem would be solved and now the fullness of that solution will be known.

We know the mystery is about our redemption. Sin marred creation, and creation is going to be cleaned up, all traces of sin and its consequences will be removed. Jesus made this possible when He died as our substitute. Sinless for sinful. Righteous for wicked. Innocent for guilty. His death makes it possible for us to again become intimate with God.

It will sound like good news, but it will end up making us sick. I think this is because those who don’t respond to the message end up in judgment. The free gift is rejected and the loss is great. This would sadden anyone who has received forgiveness for themselves. The message is such good news, that rejection of the message doesn’t make sense.

I don’t know if you have ever been to a Time Share sales event. Many years ago my wife and I went for a four hour presentation and got some free luggage. The luggage has long since become a permanent part of our landfill infrastructure. In the presentation they were selling us something that seemed too good to pass up, but we did. It was free vacations for the rest of our lives (insert the small print here). That’s right, there was a catch.

With salvation there is no catch, only good news. So why would someone reject good news without a catch? Accepting the good news requires us to accept the bad news as well, the news that we are sinners incapable of saving ourselves. And all too often pride gets in the way of admitting that truth.

John has the task of delivering that message to the nations of the world. It is great news, but news that will be rejected. Such a shame. Jesus died for them, but they will reject that free gift, and hold onto their guilt and shame. No wonder it makes John’s stomach sour.

We all know people who need forgiveness, and yet when forgiveness is offered, they reject it. It saddens our hearts, and God’s heart. Our job is to share the love of God, even though some will reject it resulting in their condemnation on judgment day. We must lovingly share, even though it will put us in the cultural cross-hairs. We must share.