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Hey, I’m going to invite you to Revelation chapter ten is where we’re at together today. Revelation chapter ten. Uh, and as we get ready to engage this text, I can tell you I am very thankful for how this this particular chapter falls into where we are in a new year together. Uh, because of what this the content of this chapter represents. If you’ve read through the book of Revelation for us, you’ll see chapter ten is very, very reflective of what, uh, sort of the the idea of chapter seven. It’s almost a repeat. And and because of that, or in chapter ten, what we discover, some people in studying the book of Revelation think that what’s happening here is really a recapitulation of what took place for the first series of judgments. We’re in a a second series of judgments in the book of Revelation. The first one, first judgments were the sealed judgments. And then and now we’re into the trumpet judgments. And as we get into this, this part of the trumpet judgment, there’s almost a really a pause in what takes place in the narrative of this story. Uh, to help. I think our hearts have a healthy perspective with with where we are as believers in relationship to the Lord. And what I mean by that is, um, there comes a time in life, especially when we face adversity, that we need reminded of who God is in light of our circumstance.
Um, because it’s it’s what carries us through the challenges that we have experienced, or at least it should be. And as I get ready to look at Revelation chapter ten, one of the things I really want to draw out in this message is, is what happens in Revelation. Chapter ten is a very similar theme that takes place throughout Scripture, because it’s a it’s a similar struggle that all of us go through. What I mean is, as I look at this chapter, this, this, this chapter reminded me of a particular story in the Bible, in John chapter nine, in John chapter nine, this is the story of of a blind man. And I’m just going to go through this very, just very quickly. But I want us to have the right mentality going into Revelation in John chapter nine. It’s the story of a man who was born blind and Jesus passed by, passes by him, and tells you in, in verse one, and it says he saw a man blind from birth. And then his disciples asked an interesting question. Verse two. They asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that that he was born blind and the disciples are doing really what all of us try to do when we face challenging circumstances. We don’t typically feel comfortable around adversity as people, especially when it involves human suffering. And sometimes because of that, we have this tendency as people to want to sort of label it and brand it and put it on a shelf to help us deal with it.
And sometimes our way of interacting with, with those challenges that people go through in human suffering is not healthy for us, and it’s definitely not healthy for people that we might engage in it. Right. In the first century, the way that they’re chalking this up is, well, the reason this man had some difficult things happen to him is either he did something wrong or his parents did something wrong. And either way, they’re facing the consequences for that. And so it’s their fault. They kind of want to deal with it by blaming it and just moving on. And and that’s that’s certainly a very prominent way of thinking in the first century when they believed in a pantheon of gods. And and if something bad happened in this world, it’s because, well, you’ve angered one of the gods and someone’s to blame for this. And let’s, let’s dish out the blame where it’s to do so, we can point the finger and move on. And we can we can think that way in our world today. Um, and we also do it in other ways, like, for example, if if we encounter someone in human suffering. I got to tell you, I, I have found people say some of the stupidest things when, when, when people are going through difficult times. And sometimes you’ll hear people say things like, and this is if this was ever you, you’re forgiven.
Okay, but but don’t do this again. Um, you’ll you’ll hear people say things like, well, you know, God let you go through this because he knew you can handle it, right? Or. Well, you know, at least at least they’re in a better place, which that that may not be wrong, right? That they they could be in a better place. But but to just say that what, what what are we’re really trying to do as people is we’re just trying to summarize the suffering and put it on a shelf so that we can just move past it so we don’t have to deal with it. And one of the better things, I think, for God’s people, especially in light of who we are in, in, in the Lord, is to understand how Jesus gives us the strength to step into that struggle not only for our own life, but for the well-being of other people in those particular situations. If we’re just trying to give a trite remark for someone to go through suffering so we can move on, it’s better in those moments to say nothing than to say something. Sometimes we Sometimes we just. Sometimes we can get to the place where we feel so bad for what someone’s going through. We think our words are going to fix it, right? But but more often, the better thing is just to weep with them in the adversity, right? Or just to be with them if they if the opportunity is given or just to show up and do something right.
Like here’s a gift card to to dinner. Just go get a meal whenever you’re ready or drop off a meal. You know, just something to to let them know that in that struggle they are not alone. And that’s that’s far better than oftentimes what we want to do as human beings to learn better. How can I emulate the hands and feet of Jesus? And how does Jesus give me the opportunity to move through the challenges of this world? Right. And in verse nine, verse chapter nine, verse one and two, this is what they’re doing. And then here’s Jesus’s response. And can I just tell you, when I read Jesus’s response, I have found the most perplexing thing about this story is Jesus’s response. And the reason for that is, is because sometimes I want to know the details, right? So they asked the question and this really this question intrigues me. I want to lean into this. Oh, man, what is God going to say? Right. What is the answer to this Lord? How will you respond? And in verse three this is what he says. Jesus answered, it was not this that this man sinned or his parents, but but the works of God might be displayed in him. And and in one hand I find that answer comforting, and in another hand I.
I find that answer terribly frustrating. And the comforting part is God’s in control. He’s going to work it out. That’s great. Your glory is going to be made known. That’s that is important place. But but here’s here’s where I struggle with this is when I’m really in it and I’m going through that difficult time. I’m glad to know God cares. I’m glad to know it’s going to work out for his glory. But really, right now, God, I want to know how because I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. God, how? How are you going to do that right now? Fortunate for for the blind man. As the story unfolds, you get almost an immediate response to how God’s going to do that. But sometimes that’s not always the case. You kind of have the end. We kind of we see the end as Christians. But, but, but we’re also in the moment. And God, I want to know, what am I supposed to do now in this moment? So if you look at the end of the story, here’s here’s how it works out. Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud. I love that this is the story I’m sharing, because really, what I need to do is explain why Jesus is choosing to do this.
Because this is weird, but I’m not even going to. So, so so he does that. That’s what I want you to know. But then he said, and he said to him, go wash in the pool of Siloam, which means sent. So he he went and washed and came back seeing. But but here’s what I do want you to know is that the blind man was obedient and and God blessed that and this that is important to think about. We may not always understand how God is exactly going to work it out, but because of who he is, I should step into what he says and see how God’s going to bless that. Alright, God. God certainly will work it out. But. But you still have that struggle, right? Like God, I know at the end you’re saying this, but. But in the now and the now how do I navigate this and learning this? In Revelation chapter ten is very important because especially when you consider where this is coming to us based on how this story is unfolded. If you remember in Revelation eight and nine, we’re dealing with the judgments and particularly in Revelation nine, some very wild judgments. I mean, when’s the last time you ever saw a locust with a scorpion tail running like a horse with human faces? Right? That’s just not if I ever see that. That is pee my pants moment. That’s what that is, right? Revelation nine.
That is a that is a challenging situation, right? And anytime you go through a challenging situation, you’re stopping and asking yourself, man, how am I going to get through this? You almost need a reorientation and a refreshment into who God is, especially when you go through difficulty. Because when life is going well, we kind of get lulled into this, this spiritual sleep of, yeah, God’s kind of there. But when you get through difficult things, you’re like, oh God, I really need to know, where are you in light of this? And how do I need to respond because of what I’m going through. Right. And so anytime you go through that difficulty, you kind of need this this reminder, this reorientation, and this is what you see over and over again in the stories of Scripture. Because as human beings, this is, this is this is a the struggle of life. Right? John chapter nine or Revelation chapter ten or whatever it is this is this is what we encounter as, as as people. And so we need this refocused perspective on the, the greatness of of who God is. Which really, this is point number one in your notes. When we go through, we’re learning to walk with God through adversity. Point number one is recognize God’s greatness. Recognize God’s greatness. When you read Revelation nine and you understand the the the fallen angel of the abyss who’s given the keys to the abyss, he unlocks the abyss, right? And these four angels come out.
And with that, these locusts. And you see in chapter nine, it torments the souls of people. And then for some it leads to death. And even in death, after seeing all that, the people that live, they still don’t repent and give their life to God. And it’s a very challenging, weighty chapter. But in case we get to the place of despair and despair and thinking too much about the darkness of this world and too little about who God is. Chapter ten starts this way. Recognizing the greatness of God. And look at this chapter ten, verse one. Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. Let me say this as I get ready to read this, uh, some, some people debate as to who exactly this angel is. Some people think this angel is a reflection of God. Others think that this angel is actually the angel of the Lord, which is God. And so there’s there’s a there’s a debate between the two. And and I’m going to tell you I it it’s not as as important to understand exactly who this angel is as to what this angel is reflecting. Uh, I lean towards I think this is more the angel of the Lord, perhaps Jesus, but. But that could be wrong. But either way, what this angel is representing is far more important.
And so then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. Look at this. Wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow over his head. And his face was like the sun and his legs like pillars of fire. And he had a little scroll open in his hand, and he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion, when he called out, the seven thunders sounded. I said the demon sounded like a moment where you needed to probably pee your pants, but that this might actually, this might take precedent. Right? But but I want you to I want you to think about what this image that’s that’s being communicated to us, these motifs that are discussed from, from the Hebrew pool of images. Right. Because if a if a Jew understood this, these particular images, as it’s communicated to us about the nature of God in light of chapter nine, these these words that the author is using are very peaceful, reflective, calming to the soul despite circumstance type words. Let me just show how that relates to us. When he when he says this angels coming down, it says he’s wrapped in a cloud. Right. The presence of God made known in this, this cloud, this this is very reflective of of the Exodus journey of the children of Israel when they’re when they’re leaving Egypt in Exodus chapter 13, when God calls them out of Egypt, they’re going from this place of slavery to this place of freedom.
That’s that’s the story of redemption, not only for the children of Israel, but for all of us. It’s important to recognize that when God redeems the soul, he’s not just taking you from something. He’s also rescuing you towards something for something that God has got this beautiful plan for your life and for the children of Israel. That’s what it was, this place of slavery to this new identity in Christ and God. It tells you in Exodus 13 leads them by cloud during the day, by fire at night. And so this, this redemption of God is made known as if to say in Revelation chapter ten, and the redemption of God will continue in the hearts of his people. And then it goes on and says, and there was a rainbow over his head, a reflective of the time of Noah in Genesis chapter nine, that God carried Noah through the flood and gives him that covenant promise with the rainbow. That’s symbolic. And and the same for us today, that the the covenant promise of God will carry you through. And what what he has declared. And then and then it says, and his face was like the sun, and the description of his face like the sun. This is this is related to God in multiple passages. But one in particular that stands out to me is Matthew chapter 17.
When Jesus goes on the Mount of Transfiguration and he’s with his disciples, and the father speaks over the son and declares to to us who he is. It’s that redemptive story being made known that now God has become flesh for you and for me. And so God wants us to understand, to recognize the greatness of who he is as it relates to our lives. And then he goes on and says, this little scroll is in his hand, declaring that God is in charge of his Word being executed. And the reason we can have confidence in His Word being executed. That scroll representing His word is because of who he is. When you see his his, his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. I mean, you’re you’re getting the idea that he is enormously in control of all circumstances because he is over it all. And then it gives us this roar of God. You know, as we’ve looked at Revelation as it relates to, to to fallen Babylon and Satan’s kingdom and and Jesus and and God’s kingdom. One of the things I’ve highlighted to us is how Satan tries to produce a counterfeit kingdom, that that reflects who God is but denies his power. And we saw a little bit of this last week where as as God has around his throne four angels, when Satan unlocks the abyss, those that come out to serve him.
It begins with four angels that Satan is referred to as the Antichrist to reflect the the true Christ. That we talked about Satan in first Peter five, reflecting that of a lion. But but we see in this passage that the true line is Christ himself. And when he speaks, he speaks with ultimate authority, because his voice reflects that of seven thunders and thunder certainly is communicating the idea of power. And the word seven reminds us of a number of completeness. He gets the final say. And when you think about the the challenges of Revelation chapter nine, what God wants to say to his people is don’t let the challenges allow you to lose perspective of who ultimately is in control and what he ultimately is about through his story of redemption. Understand God in his greatness and we go through difficult times. It tends to be our soul. The turmoil within our soul becomes anxious, as if the ultimate rescue plan needs to to be on my shoulders. But what God wants to remind us of is these things rest on his shoulders. And so if I’m going to to listen to God, to to trust in God, to do anything for God more than anything, I need to grow in my confidence of of his grace and faithfulness and power, no matter the circumstance. God, I need to know that the one constant is you. Recognize God’s greatness so that then point number two, you can cling to God’s promises.
You can cling to God’s promises. Now, I’m going to toy with this for a minute. I’m going to pretend like I’m moving into this point, but I’m actually going to pretend that way and step back for a minute. But in verse four, I want you to see this. It says, and when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write it. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down. That’s irritating, isn’t it? Like I got a guy comes up, he’s like, look how great I am. I’m going to tell you what I’m going to do. Come here. Just kidding. That’s what’s happening in verse four. But why in the world would God do this? I think it maybe reflects this idea. That we don’t lose sight of the messenger over and above the message. That it’s not just simply about resolving one circumstance, but understanding the resolution to everything is God Himself. He begins to to tell us the story, but then pauses for a minute as if to say, but wait a minute. Let’s let’s not lose sight of how important it is that you. You grab Ahold of the greatness of God rather than so much the detail. Because if if you’re given the detail, but the one you’re trusting in can’t deliver, then who cares, right? I mean, our lives are filled with with people who like to over promise and underperform.
But that’s not who God is. And that’s so important we don’t lose sight of that. To know that the one who has promised will be faithful, that what essentially is saying is, you know, sometimes we want to know the the detail. How are we going to get there? God. But what he’s saying is, no, no, what’s more important is the one who’s driving. The one who’s promised that he can get you there. What God is essentially saying is, if you truly understand who he is, you get to go through this life with him as a passenger Princess, right? If you’re familiar with that term. Right. Just you get to go on the journey, which is glorious, and you get to see great things and do great things. But but you don’t do it being being the one in charge. Rather, God himself is in control. And you get to enjoy that journey with him as you reflect his glory. Because it’s not on you, it’s on him. And when I when I thought about this, I thought, man, even thinking about my own family. I think my my family is the best road trip family on the planet. Like we have made, I don’t know how many trips from West Coast to East coast they are. They are the best when like we set records and how far we can make it.
Like it’s it is impressive. Except for there’s one person on our trips that I find is sometimes the most challenging. And surprisingly, it’s not the children in the back, right? It is the passenger princess. And it was so funny. I love doing trips with my wife because, like, I get a lot of, like, book time, podcast time, because she she will get in there and she’ll get her little passenger princess throne set up and, and her pillows and blankets and whatever and her drinks and and she’ll get a book and she’ll read it. And I know how it goes. Like she’ll start reading. All of a sudden she’ll her eyes will start messing up from the moving around and reading. But but it also works out that the car just rocks her so perfectly, so she just falls right to sleep, right? And all that part of the trip is great. I’m listening to my podcast. Kids are in the back doing whatever. Who cares, right? And but then. Then there comes this usual, this disruption on our drives. And they’re not it’s not terrible, right. It’s just every. So once in a while it happens where she wakes up and I think that she forgets, um, where we are in life at this particular point because I think sometimes she wakes up and she starts pretending like we’re teenagers again, and I’m like 16, and I just got my driver’s license, and she likes to tell me, you know what the speed limit is supposed to be? Or how to properly stop for a, for a stop sign that’s thousands of feet in front of us.
You know, I’ve been doing this fine for several hours while she’s asleep, but magically, all of a sudden, you know, I can’t do this anymore, you know? And it’s not I don’t. I should give her a hard time. It’s not, it’s not. It’s not terrible. But but it’s not even terrible. It’s just. It’s just the irony of things. You guys know what this is like, right? But but this is what happens. But this, this tends to be what happens to us. All of us. We go through difficulty in life. Our world is getting shaken up. And it’s sort of like we have to look over at a god for a minute who’s in the in the driver’s seat? And we’ve got a question. Should you have your driver’s license? Right. Are you really in control? God. How much? How much are you really going to get? Do I need to jump in at all and take the wheel? Or do you know what you’re doing? And we kind of. We need reoriented in those moments because we all struggle. And in Revelation chapter ten, this is what he’s doing. Don’t lose sight of the message over, over and above the the messenger, because who he is is really what’s going to determine whether or not he’s going to execute what he tells you.
But but then he moves on in those, those promises. And he says, then based on this identity in verse five, and the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land, raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven, and what is in it, and earth, and what is in it, and sea, and what is in it. And there would be no more delay. It’s kind of like saying this. There comes times where you think, God, do you really know best? Maybe I should take over. And he’s like, I made everything right. Heaven and earth. I’m pretty sure I know. I know what I’m doing. And. And he’s swearing by before the father. And what he’s saying is God. God is a God of covenant promise. Right? And God’s not delaying on that promise that God will fulfill his promises. And so verse seven, but that in that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled just as he announced to his servants the prophets. God is going to deliver everything he promises, just as he’s been faithful to fulfill it from the days of the prophets, he is going to fulfill it. It’s like, let me let me tell you the end.
Well, let me back up and let me just tell you I’m going to be faithful. My promises will be true. And so for us, this is what becomes important is to learn. God, let me rest in those promises. Let me know you and let me know what you’ve promised me. Like for for this year. That is my hope for you. Deeper in my walk with the Lord and understanding exactly what he says to me. It’s kind of like works like a somewhat like an insurance policy, right? Like when you get an insurance policy, you want to know what’s there, right? But you also you also want to know. But what did they leave out. Right. Is there is there a part missing here? Like what? Am I not insured that I might need. Insured. And and and coming to God’s promises. This is what we’re learning. God, help me understand how this is going to look when you talk about your glory made known. Well, how does that how does that work in our lives? One of the one of the best chapters, I think, in the Bible that that wants to saturate us in that is Romans chapter eight. A beautiful chapter on your relationship with God. And if I just peppered you with some of those thoughts and Romans eight verse 18, it says this, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy, comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? This that verse is the best verse for for anxious people. And you think about, like God, all the challenges you go through. And you’re on this journey with God. God, are you going to drop me off at the next rest stop? God, God, are you going to just leave me behind? Is this the. Is this the thing that’s finally you’re going to cut ties and let me loose? God, is this is this it? And as if he’s saying in in verse 32, do you not understand the expense that God paid for your life? He gave everything for you. There is nothing more, no greater gift that God can put over you. If God was willing to do that, what what thing do you think is possibly going to stop him from from from being with you in everything and fulfilling the promises that he has declared? And there is there is nothing. There is nothing that will separate. In fact, it goes on verse 35 and asks the question, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Like what situation? God will finally put that wedge there.
And he says, shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, for your sake, we are being killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We may not know. Every detail of what 2025 will have. In fact, can I just tell you, if God were to reveal to you every detail of what 2025 would have for you, it would be too overwhelming for us to even want to get up and face 2025. I mean, even if it was all good things, just the amount of things that you will be involved in this year, it’s too much, let alone the rest of your life. Sometimes we want to know all of those particular details, but God, how can I tell you? What’s more important is not the details. The details are going to work themselves out. But who’s on that journey with you? Will you get to that destination? It’s his power made known in your life that that is what should be preeminent.
Who cares about the details? If you don’t have the one with you who will help you walk through it. If you don’t have the relationship with God and the promises of God, the rest of that’s not even not ever going to matter because we’ve forsaken the one who will carry us through it. It’s. It’s the presence of God. It’s it’s it’s the promises of God. And then last point is this that we would follow God’s calling. That we would follow God’s calling. When we understand who and we see his promises, it’s a beautiful privilege, then to go on that journey with him, because we know whatever, whatever the day brings, we know we have the strength to go through it because we know the one who who is going through it with us. And now we have the opportunity not only to walk with him, but but to let others have the have the the privilege of joining us on that journey. Like, this isn’t just a two person passenger vehicle, right? This is this is a bus and whoever, whoever wants to get to get on it and journey with Jesus is invited. And and this is what God calls us to in in Revelation chapter ten, he says, verse eight, then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.
So I went to the angel and told him to give me this little scroll. And he said to me, take and eat it, and we’ll make your it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey. And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter, and I was told, you must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings. I love this, this is saying one when you come to know the Lord and you’re walking and resting in him. Man, you’re representing God in this world too. And take that message, because God’s God’s peace. God is for all people, all ethnic groups, tribes, tongues, languages. God’s heart is for reaching people. And so we have this privilege to do that. And at the same time, John’s also recognizing how we wrestle with that. We all wrestle with that. He’s saying, look, the Word of God is sweet. But also at the same time it challenges me on the inside. And that’s what God’s Word does. Is there, as we’ve talked about in Revelation, there are two kingdoms and and my life without Jesus. I’m living for this broken, fallen kingdom.
But as I come to know Jesus, I realize my my life was created for more. And there’s this greater kingdom for which I get to be a part of, and it creates this turmoil within me as I’m learning to die to the old self, to live to the new self that’s in Christ, refreshed and renewed because of what he’s done for me. And so in this, this, this chapter of Revelation, after all of the difficult things that we’ve read together, this this chapter is poised beautifully, I think, in this book to to help us now be refreshed and reoriented to to what ultimately matters and what ultimately is Ultimately is driving things and to consider where where is my heart on this journey in relationship to the Lord? As you think about this theme in Revelation, you find it throughout Scripture and one one other passage that I’m just going to touch on very briefly and we’ll be done is that reminds us of me of this is probably one of the most famous passages in all of the Bible. It’s Psalm 23. Everybody loves Psalm 23, right? Not. Not if you don’t know a lot about the Bible, chances are you probably know Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is one of those those comforting passages, right? The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, and he leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. It even goes on and says, you, you will prepare a table before me, before my enemies. You anoint my head with with oil. Surely goodness and mercy will go before me as I dwell in the house of the Lord all of my days. It’s an incredible Psalm. And if you ask most people and you think about this psalm, you know what comes to mind. If we if we all had a canvas to paint today and I said, just paint me a picture of what you think about with this Psalm. I find most people when they when they think about it, they usually come up with some kind of image like this, right? Beautiful plush green field and these wonderful, happy, little peaceful lambs. But you know, when we think about this psalm and maybe the imagery that might come to our minds, and this is a nice picture, right? But I have one problem with it. I don’t think it’s an accurate representation of Psalm 23. And the reason I don’t think it’s an accurate representation of Psalm 23 is that when you look at the sheep like this, that it’s in this plush little land, it almost makes the shepherd Unnecessary.
He’s almost an afterthought. In addition to that, I would just say that the big problem with thinking about Psalm 23 this way is that this, this picture, better reflects 21st century Ireland than it does Israel when Psalm 23 was written. Because if you know anything about Israel’s landscape, it’s not this. In fact, when you really start to put Psalm 23 in the context of where Psalm 23 would be written, it looks more like it looks more like this. And when you look at this imagery, you realize the whole point of the psalm is not about the destination, but about the shepherd. The shepherd becomes the vital point of Psalm 23. And this is what Psalm 23 is saying is, it’s not saying to you, look, you’re spending all your life in this pasture. Rather, it’s saying you’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death. But you don’t have to be afraid. Why? Not because of a destination, but because of the one who’s with you on the journey. The shepherd, his rod and staff. They comfort me. He knows what I need. He leads me beside still waters. He’ll direct me to the pastures for rest. He anoints my head and prepares a table for me in front of my enemies. It’s. It’s about the shepherd. This whole Christian journey. It’s not about a destination, but about a person. Because the destination without the person is void of the very power that that empowers us to do what he’s called us to in this world and to find the the comfort for which we desire and long for.
It’s not about the destination. The Christian journey is not about let me just get to heaven one day. It’s not about the destination, but it’s about the person. Because without the person, the destination will never matter. When you think about Revelation chapter ten or or even the maybe the the adversity that you’re going through today, the the greatest gift that we can have is not just simply saying, look, where’s the resolution? God, I want to know the details of how I’m going to get back to comfort real quick. The greatest gift we have in anything that we walk in life is the promise of God’s presence wherever we go. Therefore, the most important thing that we can do as people is understand the greatness of this God. And as we understand the the greatness of this God, let our lives be saturated with the promises of this King. Because when we become confident in who he is and what he says, we know that no matter what the day brings, we know the one journeying with us, and we can walk faithfully in the calling God has given to us.