"Therefore write..."

Thoughts On Revelation 1:17-19

There is something unique about true Christian "experiences." Many in the mega-churches describe all sorts of "experiences," but they largely consist of small matters being made into big, miraculous things, and of course, they always (in some way or another) benefit the great "me." 

But the genuine experience of a true believer is something else entirely. Not merely in how it manifests itself, but in what it ultimately results in. And it is the latter of those two that shows how true the "experience" is... 

Here is Revelation 1 we see quite the experience. This is one that has, in many ways, stuck in my head for more than a few reasons. It isn't that I am looking for such visions as John the apostle, but rather, the response of John, and more importantly, the response of the Lord to him. 

This is such a sobering text, because it makes clear more than anything our standing before Christ, even as Christians, and even moreso the reality of how He sees us through Himself. 

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One, and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Is it possible to read this without being stirred within? Perhaps for some, including myself at certain times, but we must indeed sober up and realize what a reality this is presenting.
The apostle John, like the other apostles, lived a life being persecuted for Christ's sake. He suffered, and watched as the other apostles were killed, and before them, the Lord Jesus Himself. He saw the church being hunted down like an animal and many Christians killed by beasts and flames. And so he knew the value of the faith he and the others held so dearly. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He covered all their sins through His sacrificial work. And yet, when he comes face to face with the Lord, he drops as a dead man, being stunned in His glorious presence. Do we think ourselves above this? Or do we have such confidence in our own faith that we neglect to consider where it comes from, or to whom it is given? Indeed, every single being that stands before the presence of God will drop in such awe of His glory, each for different reasons (fear and terror, or wonder and amazement, or even both), but they will all drop nonetheless.
However, there is a brutal reality here that must be seen: all will see His glory, so this should not be the most stirring part to us. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. No, the most stirring thing is what is said next... 

Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.

Notice, essentially, when is being said here: "Do not fear, I am God, all-powerful, and I have paid your debt. Now go and work."
People today treat salvation like a walk in the park. Like a pass for each person to go on vacation. Joel Osteen does not hesitate to say that he wants each of his church services to be a "celebration," since (as far as he is concerned) all the work is done, and we are simply here to make the remainder of our lives as comfortable as possible. Yet the Lord Jesus calls us to take up a cross, suffer for His name, and rejoice and glory in our tribulations, at times declining opportunities to be comfortable and happy and entertained. Because we are not here for ourselves, but for Him. 

John had not died and gone to Heaven in his visions we now know as the Revelations. Rather, he had visions of these things. And so take very careful note that the Lord does not tell him to "relax," "take it easy" or "have your best life now, while you have the chance!" No, he tells him to work. To do what he was told to do, writing down the messages of the Lord to the seven churches. And note also that these letters to the churches also failed to be any letters encouraging relaxation, but were letters written to emphasize the need to "stick with it," never giving in to temptation or popular opinion. Some were going to be imprisoned, some killed. And so we see the Lord not only telling John to work, but in John's work he is telling the other churches to get to work, fighting temptation and abounding in the work they were given. 

My basic point is this: When we see and hear the Gospel, the love of God, death of friends and family, and in all other matters of life, let us not sit back and say "Okay, I live by faith, Jesus paid it all, so now I will just relax and wait for Him to come again." No, but rather, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe." Let us not hear these words of Christ in Revelation 1 and say "Wow, really? Good. I was worried I'd have to do something." Rather, let our response be as John's. Because, as a final note, judging by the length of space between the Lord's command and John writing, it seems there was very little time. And so, as John, let us not sit back, but sit forward, picking up the pen (as it were) and getting to work, seeking to be useful to our Master, because He is all-powerful.