Thought for November 22, 2023

•  1842: Mt. Saint Helens erupts [a preview of coming events]
• 1910: Arthur Knight patents steel shaft golf clubs
• 1927: First snowmobile patent
• 1928: "Bolero" by Ravel first performed
• 1930: Elijah Muhammad forms the Nation of Islam
• 1950: Lowest scoring NBA game--Fort Wayne Pistons beat Minneapolis Lakers 19-18
• 1954: U.S. Humane Society forms
• 1957: Simon & Garfunkel appear on "American Bandstand" as "Tom & Jerry"
• 1963: President Kennedy assassinated and LBJ sworn is as President
• 1966: Steve Spurrier wins Heisman
• 1968: First interracial TV kiss--Captain Kirk and Uhura
• 1995: "Toy Story" released
• 2005: Angela Merkel becomes Chancellor of Germany
• Born: Abigail Adams, George Eliot, Charles de Gaulle, Wiley Post, Hoagy Carmichael, Rodney Dangerfield, Geraldine Page, Robert Vaughn, Billie Jean King, Jamie Lee Curtis, Boris Becker, Mark Ruffalo Scarlett Johansson, 
• Died: Blackbeard, Arthur Sullivan [Gilbert & Sullivan, wrote "Onward Christian Soldiers"], Lorenz Hart [Rodgers & Hart, "My Funny Valentine"], Shemp Howard [ 3 Stooges], Aldous Huxley, C.S. Lewis, Mae West, Anthony Burgess, Emil Zatopek, Mary Kay Ash [cosmetics], 

Thought:

A vision of Christ--Revelation 1:9-20.

Have you ever prayed for God to show Himself. Have you ever prayed for God to make His presence known. I don't know what John was praying on that Lord's Day, but knowing where he was, he might well have been praying for God to show His presence. John was in a Roman penal colony on an island of 34 square miles--about the size of the city of Brentwood. Pliny says that the island was "nothing but bare rocks and inhospitable rugged shore where they had to pass a life of hardship and misery." Some of you have been to that island. All of us have experienced a time in our spiritual or physical life when we felt barren, alone, miserable. It helps me to notice what John says about those to whom the letter is sent--he is a fellow partaker in tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance. Isn't that all of us at some time--we have trials and tribulations, we gain strength from the king and His kingdom, and so we persevere. 

I would have liked to see John's face when he turned around to see who was talking to him. He saw Jesus, walked and talked with Jesus, saw Jesus die, saw the resurrected Lord. Now he turns to see Jesus:

• Standing among His churches. Reminds me that Jesus stands among His churches today and He sends those to watch over the churches. Jesus is not in some faraway place--He is with us.
• Wearing a robe and golden girdle, =dress of a priest or king. He is both.
• Hair like white wool.
• Eyes like a flame--read Psalm 139 this morning. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
• Feet like bronze--the strongest metal then known to man. Think about the statue in Daniel--feet of clay that was destroyed by the rock. Here we have  feet of bronze--immovable, unshakeable. 
• Voice like many waters--think of a waterfall of a powerful running river or large waves breaking of the shore. Power. And it drowns out all other sound. When we sing "Crown Him with Many Crowns" we sing "His anthem drowns all music but its own."
• A sharp, two-edged sword from His mouth. We read about this again in chapter 19. And go back and read Hebrews 4:12.
• Face like the sun--glory. In heaven there is no need for a sun, because the light of the Lamb illuminates.

John's reaction--falls face down. Reminds me again that I should not treat Jesus like a buddy--He is my friend, but He is my God--so I respond with worship. awe, reverence to Him and His word. I love the first thing Jesus says to John--do not be afraid. Why? Because I am--first and last, alive. Because He lives we can face today. 

I hope you have a vision of Christ today. Whatever has you fearing and doubting, He says "I am." 

Blessings

Larry