God's Present Love
Brothers & Sisters,
God LOVES us. Don’t take my word for it, take God’s. In the context of John’s letter in Revelation the church finds herself amidst intense persecution. Things are looking rather bleak and on top of that, John has been banished to the island of Patmos after a failed assassination attempt by Rome. This is when God gives John this vision and instructs him to write everything down. As he does what he is instructed to do he sees things that you and I can only put our best sanctified imaginations to. Yet, before he even gets to all that stuff, the opening of the letter shows where his heart gaze is fixed; on the Lord. And this causes him to sing!
He writes a doxology (or sings), “…to him who loves us and had freed us from our sins by his blood, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”
I hope you are as struck by the present reality of God’s love in the way that John is here. He doesn’t only write on God’s former love or even God’s future love. No, John writes of God’s present love. God LOVES us. Right now, in whatever circumstance or season of life you are in. Have you stopped to think about the implications of that?
As we step into this Christmas season it is not lost on me that this time of year is a mixed bag for many. This is a season that is ripe for slowing down and reflecting on the wonderful grace of God, it is a time for families to gather around the table and tree… and while that may be true, for some of us that is not possible. The reality of sin an death in the world has taken some of our most beloved away from us rendering these kinds of gatherings impossible or forever changed. If that is you, look at that text again!
“…to him who LOVES us.”
As John reminds us of the present love of God he actually speaks into these realities. Christ has, “freed us from our sins by his blood.” There it is, the reality of sin and death, both dealt with in a single sentence. The greatest way in which God has shown His love for us is through the Gospel. However, this is not something you and I are supposed to solely look back on. This reminder of our salvation should serve as a healing balm of grace for our sanctification in real time. Christ’s atoning work on the cross in our place, removing our guilt of sin, and making us a Kingdom of priests is for today!
This, too, should cause us to sing and I want to encourage you that direction! Paul writes to the Corinthians that the cross is the power of God to us who are being saved. (1 Corinthians 1:18) The book of Revelation is not just a book that looks back at what God has done or ahead at what God is going to do, but a book that reminds us that he is in this fight with us now. If he is in it, the war is already won!
God LOVES us.
Singing with you,
-Pastor Ricky