A Revelation of Royal Proportions

         

 

 The other day I was having a particularly hard time stomaching the sad news of yet another shooting after such a long string of them. I began to lament for our nation, our children, and even for my very existence. I decided it was perhaps time to turn off the media and turn my attention toward the Word in order to reorient my thinking and gain a grasp of a more godly perspective.

   With firm expectation, I opened my Bible in search of God’s quiet affirmation, establishing himself as my gentle heavenly father as typically relayed in those “love” chapters that the Apostle John  (as inspired through the Holy Spirit), so tenderly and eloquently expresses in his prose. You can imagine how taken back I was when I turned to that “other” book written by the Apostle whom Jesus loved, which seems at first glance so contrary to his tender approach. I  was expecting that day, to read about the God of all comfort, but instead, I was privileged to step into the Glory of His throne room where I’d venture to guess few men and women typically travel.This is what I learned in stark contrast to what I typically think of when I meditate on the person of Jesus Christ as depicted in the four gospels; and our heavenly Father, to which the Christ so graciously offers us access.

   Now, it is not my intention to give a full discourse on the Book of Revelation (I’m incapable of doing that), but it is my intent to point out what has been so sadly lost upon me over the last twenty-four years or so after my conversion.When I came to Christ many years ago, my experience was one of great power and awe. God had revealed himself to me at the funeral of a friend in way that thrust me down off my throne and established himself  in my mind and in my spirit as Adonai, Master over all, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One I’d sought to find  safety in from that time forward; but have been too soon to forget, and in the wearing down of my daily struggle, in these chaotic times of unprecedented fear, I have to place myself in agreement with His Spirit and intentionally look beyond the worries of today, into the Heavenly of Heavenlies.

   And that is where” the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the One who has triumphed over evil resides; the Lamb, looking as if it had been slain who stands in the center of the throne, encircled by four magnificent living creatures and twenty-four elders. He has seven horns that signify his strength and seven eyes that symbolize His omniscience and has been given all authority over heaven and earth to take from the right hand of God who sits on His chariot throne, the scroll that contains the seven seals of judgement that only He has been found worthy to impart upon the earth. Because He in all His heavenly and earthly perfection was slain, and with His blood, he purchased us for God; from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation. He has made us be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and we will reign on earth with Him forever.”Rev. 5:5-10.

     So why then do I fear? Because I have neglected to take in the full scope of the One who came down off His throne, in the humility of a man, as a sheep to be slaughtered by the very same ones he came to save. Because I have failed to take into account His worthiness before a Holy God. Because I have forgotten to honor Him not only as Lord of heaven and earth but, as Lord of my life. Because I have forgotten to acknowledge what really happened on the day the veil was torn. Because I have refused to understand my position as a daughter of the Most High and what it means to be welcomed into the throne room of that great and mighty King. These times need to be times of remembrance.

Therefore, who would dare mess with me and if they’d so choose to, what would the reality of the consequences be. Truth be told, I suspect I would be okay, perhaps even glorified. So from here on out, I will think of Him as my Father the King.  He is a God of judgment but also a God of love. And “whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in the world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” 1 John 4:16-18; but that’s not me because I am a daughter of the King. “ How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1John 3:1.