December 28
Zech 12:1-13:9 | PS 147:1-20 | Prov 31:1-7 | Rev 19:1-21
There is such a tendency to elevate our contribution, our importance, our significance. Pride tends to make us read into things, but the Bible should discount such tendencies. Over and over again in Scripture, we see it is God who is working either directly or indirectly through people. God's story has always been moving forward, the only question is what part and what role we will play in His story. This is why God hates pride as revealed in Proverbs 6:16-17. It is why Jesus begins the Beatitudes with blessings to those who are poor in spirit, which is the opposite of pride. Unless this fundamental concept is understood, it is very difficult to follow God. For if filled with pride we will be following ourselves, the world, our flesh, but not God.
Notice the scene unfold in the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 19:11-14, "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war...He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." So, those of us in Christ will get to follow Jesus into battle. We might even look fierce on those horses. But we see who fights the battle in 19:15,21, :Now out of HIs mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations...And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse...". In this final battle there will be those assembled for Him and riding behind Him, and those assembled before Him ready to do battle with Him. But ultimately the only one who fights is Jesus. The rest of us are spectators. This should not surprise us, for two thousand years ago, our sins were judged on the cross. Just like in the final battle, it came down to one Person, Jesus Christ. No one else had the power to save humanity from its sins. No one could do anything to help Him with what it was that He was going to do. Our Savior asked the Father, knowing what He was going to endure if there was any other way (Matthew 26:39-42), but Jesus was the only way, and still is the only way.
It all comes down to one Person in history, Jesus Christ. The rest of humanity takes sides. We either humble ourselves, accept the role of sheep, and experience the blessed life of what it means to submit to His Lordship. Or we choose the other side. Some may believe the other side is clothed in their own righteousness, but in reality these too are only sheep following the dictates of someone or something, such as the world system, the ladder of success, their own flesh or pride. This season should make us all pause as we focus on that little Baby born in Bethlehem so long ago. Wrapped up in that one Person the keys to humanity and our eternity are held.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: