“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:9-10).’”
Yesterday we made the point that we should never leave Revelation without being renewed in our awe of the one who wins in the end: Jesus. Yet when we look at him, we can also see ourselves more accurately than if we had peered into a mirror. C. S. Lewis, in one of his most famous addresses entitled “The Weight of Glory,” encouraged his listeners to see people in light of eternal realities. He said: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Well, the book of Revelation helps to lift our eyes to see greater realities concerning ourselves. We are far more than inconsequential persons who struggle to live on this earth for 80 years and then become soon forgotten. No! We cannot say that if we have kept our eyes on Jesus.
If we belong to Jesus, then we should embrace this truth concerning ourselves: Jesus has purchased (ransomed) us with his own blood. He has done so in order to gather us together with a band of others he has purchased. He will make this gathering a kingdom and priests to our God that we might reign on earth. As Lewis surmised, if we saw ourselves as we will one day be, we might be tempted to worship that being.
Yet, Revelation not only reveals that one day we will become something impressive, but it also reminds us that we are even now greatly valued and loved by our great champion. Our text above tells us that he purchased us with his own blood. If we understand the magnitude of that announcement, then we should not be surprised when we are described as those “who follow the Lamb wherever he goes (Revelation 14:4b).” We see ourselves best when we see ourselves in light of our Savior.
Comments