He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14: 7 NRSV
This verse quotes the first angel making an announcement to the world. The angel instructs everyone to fear God the creator because of the upcoming judgment. It is God, not the emperor or society or money, who should be worshipped. Fear God because you have not been worshipping your creator!
Fear is a great theme in the book of Revelation. What we Americans must really understand is that this book is truly not written for us. We are too rich and spoiled to really understand it. We are also quick to say it was written for others, yet the great Babylon [code name for Rome] referred to in Revelation was just as rich and spoiled as we are. We tend to miss the point and overlook what Revelation says to us.
For example, pull up your online checking account or pull out your checkbook. Take the last twenty checks/ATM charges on your account. How many of them were made out to your church/your tithe/a religious cause? What about your last fifty payments? Glancing at what you spend your money on, could a stranger figure out what your true commitments are? Do you place God before all else in your life? Is your life an expression of worshipping your Creator?
Ouch.
God, we seem to be lacking in real fear let alone admiration for You. You are way down on our list of priorities in our lives. Yet, you gave your only Son for us. Thank you for your love. May we not squander it. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
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