January 26, 2000
LIFE & WORK SERIES:
Christ's love calls us to
never-faltering faithfulness
___Revelation 1:1-18
___By Debra Hochgraber
___Women's Evangelism Consultant, BGCT, Dallas
___It was nearly 28 years ago-- the summer of our wedding. Particular moments of those weeks are frozen in time for me. Actually, I have numerous recollections of running to the mailbox, hurriedly looking for a particular Illinois return address. Those letters were not only read; they were read over and over until I had nearly memorized them. Admit it, you've been there.
___Those letters were so precious to me. They were Dennis' words, anchored in our mutual commitment of faithfulness, one to another. They reminded me of his love for me and moved my thoughts to our future. God had shown me his desire that I marry and was continually affirming in my heart his choice for my life partner.
___For the next four weeks, we will be discussing God's call to faithfulness. Our Scripturestudy will be based on the first three chapters of Revelation. John names it "the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him" (Revelation 1:1); "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ" (v. 3). Revelation is a letter, the contents of which are Christ's testimony, his words to us, revealed to John by an angel of the Lord.
___Being faithful to Dennis as our wedding day approached was not difficult. But the Lord knows that the bride of Christ, the church (Ephesians 5; Revelation 19:6-10) will face difficulties, uncertainties, even persecution, which will challenge our faithfulness until Christ receives us unto himself (Revelation 19:1-2). We will be blessed if we "take to heart what is written" (1:3). We are to remain faithful, obeying the message of the letter and being encouraged by the knowledge of the Lord's final victory.
___One major reason for this commitment to faithfulness is the debt we owe "to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood" (v. 5). We have the grace gift of redemption. He has proven his love for the church. Along with redemption comes the privilege of serving the Lord and being a testimony of God's love to those around us. "He has made us to be ... priests" (v. 6).
___We know the Lord is coming again with even more certainty than brides and grooms have that their wedding date will be untouched by future events (v. 7). That certainty should encourage us to be faithful when the circumstances of this world are fighting against our commitment to Christ.
___Christ knew that much of what would be revealed to John was going to include destruction, judgment and wars, as well as the new heaven and earth. In the very beginning of the revelation, Christ's words were John's assurance that there is no need to fear. "I hold the keys of death and Hades" (v. 18). We worship the worthy victor.
___The return address on this letter reads "throne of heaven." We will spend 11 weeks reading it together. They are precious words to encourage our hearts and call for our faithfulness.
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