Revelation 19:1-10

The previous two days, I have restated who I am. I am Rob Cummins, God’s son. Having lived as a slave of darkness for 23 years, it has always been a joy for me to repeat this to others and to live toward God thankfully that I am His son. It is such a miracle, it astonishes me really. Fairy tails really do come true! Frogs do become princes! Condemned men are acquitted! I pray that gratitude and astonishment will remain central to our being.

I invite you to try this out. Say, I am (insert name), God’s own child. Try writing that sentence a few times. How does that feel? Did that ring true? Or, did it ring wishful? Note: I decided that if I were to continue writing, I would work to make it more interactive, ask more questions in order to stimulate the conversations we need to have with ourselves, others and especially with God.

Here is another trial. Look for the opportunity to repeat your (perhaps new) sentence to another person. If you are fortunate enough to have some safe relationships (also know as friendships), practice your story with these trusted ones. If you are even more fortunate and have a collection of safe relationships (if they already know Christ this is called your Church), practice this introductory-line of God’s story (also known as a testimony) in your life with each other. We were called to be a light to the world. Our high-wattage stories are meant to be public domain. He means to publish us.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck measure, but on the lamp stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Identifying ourselves publicly as Christ’s was not meant to be a one-off deal at our baptism. (Note; I was not up to this anyway at my infant baptism of sprinkling.) Our public profession of faith was intended to be the beginning of a life-long public identification with the invisible yet resurrected Son of God. It is the invisible part (isn’t it?) that makes the telling of our story a bit ticklish (and perhaps intimidating)?

There is the famous quote by St. Francis; “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words.” I could not agree more but I don’t think we get ourselves off the hook with the good-behavior-only rationale. The apostle Peter seemed to understand that it was a matter of both words and deeds.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the exellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ….Beloved I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep you behavior excellent ….so that….they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.  1 Peter 2 :9-12 

And it is the days of visitation that this passage in Revelation is referring to. More specifically, it is the Marriage of the Lamb. Here, the sheep have already been separated from the goats and the wheat from the chaff. This is the day He will be joined to all who have identified themselves with Him during their brief sojourn on earth as aliens and strangers. The Bride are the sheep who have heard and responded to His voice.

On this day, will we be been known as either those who were looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God -or- those who, tragically, were not, who instead fell right in with the spirit of this age as those seduced by the great harlot who was corrupting the earth.

I would like to share one last scripture that emphasizes how essential our public identification with Christ is while we are still in these earthly bodies;

Every one therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 10:33) For whoever is ashamed of me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)

If this word today has been uncomfortable for you, be encouraged. It is just doing what God’s Word does. At certain places in our journey, becoming uncomfortable with our lives (or even shaken in them) is the beginning and evidence of a new work of the Holy Spirit. Note; Usually the birthing of new things is excruciatingly painful (for a season) and yet so gloriously worth it
(forever more).

His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God;s Word. We can’t get away from it – no matter what. Hebrews 4:12 MSG

Father, lay us bare in the light of Your Truth so that we may change our attire if necessary or fill our lamps in preparation of Your announced coming and the celebrations that will be a part of the culmination of all things in You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

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