My D Group (Discipleship Group aka Bible Study) is studying Revelation right now. It’s intense. This is by far the hardest study I’ve participated in and I’ve done many studies on Revelation and end time events before. This one is stretching me (and our whole group) in ways I wasn’t really prepared for. And thankfully, end time events is an “open handed” issue – meaning salvation doesn’t depend on nailing the order of these events or knowing if they’re literal or imagery. But it’s still hard. And sometimes I want to just quit because it’s hard. And honestly, I’m a lazy American who sometimes just wants to quit when things are difficult. But I’m not going to.

I’m about 8 weeks in to this study and I’ve delved deep in all kinds of wrath and judgment (all justified and totally due), but do you know what the saddest part has been to me? There’s one line in the passage we covered last week that states, “They did not repent of their deeds.” Rev. 16:11 God is pouring out His wrath which most people will say is so mean and terrible; but it’s actually God’s MERCY. He’s pouring out wrath in Revelation in order to BRING PEOPLE TO HIM. [Depending on interpretation,] this is the part of the world’s story where people left on earth (after the church is raptured out) who have not accepted Christ as their savior are being giving their last chances to recognize who the God of the universe is and to repent and turn to Him. But. They. Won’t. It’s unbelievable to me. They still choose to deny Him. They still choose their own pride and self.

It seems here in America, for sure, we’re so prideful and bratty and spoiled, that we no longer honor God who sits on a throne. HE sits on the throne. We worship HIM. We are not on a throne. We are not equal to God. This place (this planet, this universe, the heavenly realms, all of it) is HIS. We are HIS. Not the other way around. If Jesus is Lord of your life, He’s in the driver’s seat of your life. He’s not in the trunk. He’s not in the backseat. He’s not in the passenger seat. He’s either in the driver’s seat, or He’s not in the car at all. But it feels like oftentimes, we want to drive our car around with a mannequin up front behind the wheel while we are actually operating the car from the passenger seat “mailman style.” We want everyone around us (when it’s convenient, of course) to assume that’s Jesus leading us and driving our lives, meanwhile we won’t let go of the dang steering wheel!

Scripture commands us to DENY ourselves. We’re to take up our cross and follow HIM. He doesn’t follow us and our lead; we’re to follow HIM. When we assume we have the authority to assign gender pronouns; when we assume we have the authority to decide which lives are worth keeping alive and which aren’t; when we assume we have the authority to define marriage as anything we want, we are acting as gods and that is idolatry. The entire point of the Christian walk is that WE would decrease so HE would increase. That is dying to self. It’s denying what YOU want and only living for what HE wants. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 This idea absolutely goes against every thing that America and the current culture is feeding us. But it’s the only thing true. It’s the only thing that will last.

Pride is an incredible thing. I wonder if we understand that we are sinners. We are not good. There is no one good but the FATHER (God). Jesus even said, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18. It seems in this current day and age, everyone wants to assume they’re good, though. That they’re not *that* bad – I mean look at So And So, now they’re bad! But that’s not true – even Jesus declares that He’s not good, only God is good. Being “good” gets you nowhere fast.

Good won’t get you to heaven. And neither will religion. Only CHRIST alone, through FAITH alone gets you to heaven. And you don’t just get heaven – YOU GET CHRIST! Coming to faith in Jesus will not give you health and wealth; that is a LIE. Jesus tells a person interested in following Him in Matthew 8:20, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Any earthly possessions we have are His anyway and to be used for His glory, not our own.

Some people will hate what I’m saying. Maybe they’ll hate me too for saying it. But that’s ok; Jesus gave me a heads up for when that happens. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me [Jesus} first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:18-19 The only reason I say any of this is out of love for my fellow man and to follow Jesus’ last command to His followers before He left this earth. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19 I usually try to beat around the bush and be as P. C. as possible when presenting the gospel, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life is short and you truly never know what’s around the corner.

I know that sometimes “Christianese” (this using Christian language that someone outside the church may not recognize) can be a bit of an issue sometimes. What even is the “gospel” and what do you mean when you say that, Johnna? Gospel means GOOD NEWS. Here’s the good news, guys! Jesus! He’s the good news! Here’s the low down:

—-Humans are sinners. We all sin. We live in a fallen world full of sin and heartache and brokenness, and because of that we are separated from God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 This is where the pride thing can become a hang up. We don’t want to admit that we’re a sinner… we’re “good people” remember? We’ve never murdered anyone or cheated on our spouse. We’re “good, duh!” But that’s not true – Scripture tells us we’ve all sinned. Can you admit that and accept that as truth about yourself?

—-Jesus is the Son of God sent to this earth to die on a cross to make recompense for mankind’s sin. Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrificial lamb (fulfilling Old Testament Law, by the way) whose blood was shed to cover the sin of all mankind who would accept Him. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Not by WORKS. Just Jesus. This is why I say religion won’t save you. Church won’t save you. Your pastor won’t save you. Jesus saves you. Christ alone.

—-So then what? If you can admit you’re a sinner and that you need a savior, and you believe that savior is Jesus alone and you are willing to accept His free gift, then you commit your life to Christ and ask Him to become Lord of your life. This would be the first step of a lifetime of growing and learning and being sanctified and walking with Jesus. But the first step is always the most important one. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So this might look like a prayer that asks God for help and welcomes Jesus to become Lord of your life.

Depending on how familiar you are with scripture this may [theologically] be clear as mud – but it’s a lifelong process of studying Scripture and falling more and more in love with Jesus who loves you SO much. So, so much. When everything else fades away – your savings account, your friends, your health – Jesus will still be there and He will still be for you and with you.

If there is a question you have that I could answer or if I could pray for you or encourage you in any way, please reach out! That’s not just something I’m saying so I have a cute conclusion here, it’s a genuine offer. I am available to you whether you know me or not, and there’s nothing more important to me than helping you work toward eternity with Jesus and having a life here on earth worth living because of the hope that awaits us in heaven.