Hope’s Fruit: The Worship of God
The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” 7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” Revelation 22:6-9
This is our last gospel-sanity devo on John’s vision of the future of heaven-the headwaters of living hope. So what is our primary take-a-way from this series of reflections on the outrageously glorious life we will enjoy in the new heaven and new earth? No doubt we could offer truckloads of responses to that question, but let’s at least consider John’s response-that of a persecuted octogenarian pastor exiled on the rocky isle of Patmos.
This is our last gospel-sanity devo on John’s vision of the future of heaven-the headwaters of living hope. So what is our primary take-a-way from this series of reflections on the outrageously glorious life we will enjoy in the new heaven and new earth? No doubt we could offer truckloads of responses to that question, but let’s at least consider John’s response-that of a persecuted octogenarian pastor exiled on the rocky isle of Patmos.
After John heard and saw this mind-boggling heart-enriching fulfillment of God’s Story of redemption and restoration, he fell down in humble joyful adoration. Granted, John needed the angel who was the agent of this revelation to redirect the focus of his worship away from himself to God, but we get the point: We too should be deeply and doxologically encouraged by this blessed hope. Things aren’t just gonna be alright, they are gonna “ROCK”, forever and ever! I can offer no better concluding words, admonition or application to this series of reflections on our future than these from the Apostle Paul. Let’s join him in living like heaven is a real place.
Romans 8:18-23 – I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Even so Lord Jesus, Maranatha!… Come, your Bride awaits your return!
