Come and see...
When I taught high school Sunday school, which feels like eons ago, we did a study of the entire book of Revelation. I will tell you, that even though I did all of the prep work and study to prepare for this class, I learned more in that series of classes about that book, God, Jesus, my students, this world and myself than anything before that. Since then, I've been through many Sunday School classes and studies about the book of Revelation, and each one has taught me something new that I may have missed or was revealed to me.
Today, I was reading chapters five and six. Breezed through chapter five, but came to a screeching halt on the next chapter. Why? I'll show you.
REVELATION 6
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were of the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts say, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
3 And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
7 And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
First let's look at one important thing. Yes, they're "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," I get that, but look at this..."they were given..." . They did not come already having the implements needed for the job ahead of them, rather, these things were given to them. Back in chapter five, we see this:
REVELATION 5
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hat prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.
Okay, see the difference here? The horsemen were given, the Lamb took. This is an important difference as it shows who's in charge here.
While what's going on with this year; the pandemic, quarantine, politics, murder hornets, Godzilla dust, hurricanes, et. al., we can certainly succumb to the futility of the moment and cry, woe is me! I mean, a virus that has it's deadly side, government lock downs, citizens and media out of control, rising food and utility prices, loss of income, yeah, I can see where it can sucker punch a person. But, if you are a Child of the King (saved), there is reason to hope in God, there is reason to put all of your trust in Jesus, even when we can't see the forest for the trees, as it were. As we read in Revelation 5, verse 8, He took the book. We know that He was slain for the sins of the world. He. Is. In. Control. Nothing has been given to him, as it was for the horsemen, He already has it.
Faith and trust are difficult for the human condition to have and maintain. Things come along to shake us to the very core, with the intention of causing us to waver in our faith and trust in Jesus. But know this, at the end of the Book, we know Who wins and who loses. Right now, things look bleak, horrible, unstable, and difficult to comprehend, but, if we can just step back, take a breath, and search for the positive, and somewhere there are positives, even if we can't pinpoint them, and put all our faith and trust in the One who died for us, once and for all, then at the end, we will see the reward, and hear "Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord." (Matthew 25:21)
Friends, I know 2020 is rough...to put it in modern vernacular, it sucks. But, hold on to the One who will get you through it all. Even when we can't see the reason, even when we can't see the end or the why, or the what, we can always look to the One who is holding His hand out to you, waiting for you to take it so He can lead you through. Trust Him.
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