December 4, 2020
Scripture Resource Passage: Revelation 5
The Stories Homer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolstoy, Singer, Christie, Solzhenitsyn and story-tellers around the galaxy provide rich traditions of insight and struggle. I love stories with faces of joy, blessing, peace, grace, kindness, patience, goodness and God’s presence. Stories also connect me to pain, suffering, infidelity, foul plots, evil, murder and sometimes genocide. Are you aware the best story always includes a song?
Thankfully, the Bible fills out its true stories with both celebrations and spiritual disasters. Long have we, the people of Earth, needed these stories to be true for they include Messiah’s song. Messiah’s story is the best non-fiction of all time and can be found in Revelation 5.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, opens a glimpse of the story’s climax in Revelation 5. Messiah’s story—I long for this story to be true.
I need a Messiah—no gothic novel-like super-hero or super-heroine will suffice. North American culture, courtesy of our interests and entertainment’s emphases, provides many premium individuals. Our impoverished century seeks individuals who are super-self-flyers and possess anger-raged fighting power. Fire-starter eyes are a necessity, for these are super-folks. Yet, their weaknesses betray them and they do not bring the song.
Strong? Yes, buildings are lifted and rockets snatched, mid-flight.
They fly without airplanes? Yes, they cruise the stratosphere.
Fire-starters? Yes, with glaring tenacity, opponents are ignited.
The Song Yet, their strength is insufficient. Their poverty is apparent to the heavens, if not to the earthlings. They lack true-story quality; and, they have not the song. We need Messiah’s story to be true because Messiah brings what no other provides. Messiah brings redemption’s song. As Messiah arrives the lyrics cause Saturn’s rings to vibrate as the Pleiades cry out in celebration.
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).
Famous authors, intriguing manuscripts, plot lines to twist your mind—each of these are sum and substance of great story-telling. But the grandest story of them all is Messiah’s story and we need, oh yes, I need Messiah’s story—set to song in Revelation 5—to be true.
Life Applications
1. Which parts of Revelation 5:1-10 provide you with encouragement?
2. Do you know songs which enhance a disciple’s commitment to Messiah’s story? Check out: “We Believe,” lyrics by Richie Fike, Matt Hooper and Travis Ryan, 2013.