Are you… with ME?
We need to ask the right question.
I’ve been attending a Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) this year, and we have been working through the book of Revelation in the Bible. It has certainly returned me to another depth of reverence when it comes to the Holiness of our LORD, and his Majesty, Sovereignty and even his Perspective. Those things can get easily and ever so skewed in this “twisted and perverse” generation that we are living in as Paul would put it. I must confess, this last year, ending with this election cycle had me wrestling internally a bit. And you?
In chapter 1 of Revelation, as John was arrested and held captive on the island of Patmos, he was given an overwhelming vision of Christ, in all His strength, authority, majesty and righteousness. John falls at Christ’s feet because of this vision of Jesus, who proclaims to him, “Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death”.
In Revelation 4, The Lord calls John to “come up here and see what must still take place”. The Bible says that immediately John was in the Spirit. He also said that he was in the Spirit in Revelation 1:10. The Spirit enabled John to experience a shift from his present predicament on earth, to a heavenly perspective. What he began to see was truly unexplainable. John did his best using descriptions of light and color, gemstones, a rainbow, fire and the appearance of God’s throne to try to explain Him alone, “who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Tim 6:16). Experiencing the Holy, Majestic Presence of God in His Glory, with all the Worship and Honor being given to him was too marvelous and overwhelming for John to describe in its fullness. Read Revelation 4 yourself. Oh, that we would keep a heavenly perspective in all things.
A good friend recently brought me back to a scripture we studied earlier this year in Joshua, chapter 5, verses 13-15:
Joshua 5: 13-15
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
In appearing as “Commander in Chief” over Joshua in Joshua 5, the Lord Jesus himself, refuses to answer Joshua’s question, because it was not the right question. As Joshua asked “ Are you for us or our Adversaries?” Such an earthly perspective ! The Lord answered “Neither”. What the Lord was actually saying to Joshua when he told him to take off his sandals because it was Holy ground was, “No Joshua, humble yourself, the correct question would be “Are you, with ME ?”
What a question for all of us.
As this past year and presidential election in America has greatly divided Americans and the world, (even believers), and caused such ongoing angst for many, Christians need to remind ourselves, we already have a King. Our King is Holy, set apart, and Sovereign over all. He is all Powerful and all Knowing. He burns with Purity, and His Love for this world is unmatched. He alone holds all Wisdom and Might. He alone sits on His Throne as Judge, and Victor, because he has already won the battle of battles for our souls. He always WAS, He IS, and He IS TO COME, the uncreated One, the Alpha and Omega. The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations! ( Psalm 33:11) ; AND, we are in union with HIM. He is the Head, and we are the body ( Col 1:18). He is the Vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). He is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride (Eph 5: 31-32). With him we have been crucified, and baptized into him (Roms 6:3). In Him there is no division. Period. (1 Cor 1: 10-12)
Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, to do nothing out of vain conceit or selfish ambition, and do everything without grumbling or arguing, (complaining, disputing) so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. After all, we are His, and we are vessels of His Glory no matter what is going on around us. Our marching orders do not change with any leadership of this world.
Let’s make sure our eyes are looking up and our footing is in the Truth of God’s Word. And may we by His Grace, when we lose our footing, hear him reminding us of the same question,
Are you…with ME?
For Further study:
1 Cor 1: 10-12; 1 Cor 12:25; John 17:1; James 4:1-4; Revelation 1- 4; Phil 2; Eph 4: 1-3;
