The worst and the best are still ahead. We must be clear that we do not sell the best because we fear the worst. When fear stops our righteousness, silences our witness, and ends our worship, the cost is dear to those who cannot feel, see, or hear our testimony.
Revelation 19:6-8 (NLT) Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
This is the Dream. The vast crowd of believers. every tribe, nation, and tongue is represented. This isn’t a “city of bricks” but of Living Stones. (1 Peter 2:5). You don’t have to conform to be there.
This is a Worship Service. It is filled with Praise!! Like mighty ocean waves. Like terrifying thunder. “There is a worship storm a’ brewing.” There is incomprehensible joy ahead. They are glad and they will not be contained by forms or expectations. This is LOUD. It’s demonstrative. This Bride has finally arrived at her long-awaited wedding day.
Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) …Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
This is the Joy For Which Jesus Died. Jesus is the Bridegroom This is the moment he anticipated at the wedding in Cana. This is the Bride He has been serving, caring for, providing for, that He died for. This is the party of all eternity. Yes, Jesus died for a party. If that sounds crass, it’s because we fail to comprehend the magnitude and price of this party.
Revelation 19:8 (NLT) She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
No Matter How Popular Wrong Becomes, We Will Still Do What Is Right
The Worst is Yet to Come.
Mark 13:19 (NLT) For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again.
This isn’t meant as a discouragement but as preparation. The best way forward is always with brutal honesty and unfailing faith. Jim Collins, in his book Good To Great, told the story of Admiral James Stockdale who was a POW during the Vietnam War. Jim Collins asked Admiral Stockdale how he dealt with the hopelessness of the situation. He replied, “I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end —which you can never afford to lose —with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” ~ James Stockdale.
2 Timothy 3:13 (NLT) But evil people and impostors will flourish.
Evil People Will Flourish. Our world likes to believe itself civilized. However, I believe it has just placed a clean sanitized sheet over its brutality so it can appear to be civilized. Civilized people can have civil discourse. Civilized people treat the least among them with kindness and service. Civilized people do not laugh at barbaric things or the humiliation of others.
And Practically, it doesn’t Matter. Because we will be faithful to our King and live by the wonderful mandates of His Kingdom.
Revelation 19:9 (NLT) And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
No Matter How Unpopular, We Will Never Stop Blessing Others With The Invitation
It is the “Evil People” which we Invite to the Feast. The party is composed of the “Formerly Evil”. God doesn’t save ‘good’ people. He saves ‘bad’ ones because that is the only kind there is.
Luke 14:23 (NLT) So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.
The people who don’t like us are the ones we invite. They are out on the Highways, hiding in the hedges. They are the poor, oppressed, broken, and blind… and, they don’t like us. They don’t like our God. They don’t care for our worship. They sincerely believe that we are the enemy.
And, it doesn’t Matter. Our job is unchanged. Our mission is clear. Invite them; BLESS THEM with an invitation. “Would you like to come to dinner at the end of the world?”
Revelation 19:10b (NLT) …Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”
No Matter What Is Forced Upon Us, We Will Worship Only God
Man will Always Worship and Force the Worship of “Not God”. In the middle east, they force the worship of Allah, the God of Islam. Governments force the worship of Communism. The State is God. Communism requires Atheism. It often uses religion to end religion. Sadly, even the Church on Earth has tried to force a false version of God upon the world. Usually, this happened when the church had either become corrupted by governments or been corrupted by evil men with a bloodthirst for power and money.
AND, it will NOT Matter. The best is yet to come! The best worship service EVER, is scheduled, and I’m going to be there. This formerly evil man gets to go because of the Blood of Jesus. We will not worship the little “g” gods of men. We worship the ONE True God.
What Matters to You? At what price will we silence the invitation? At what price will we sell our righteousness? When will it be too expensive to Worship? May the Power of the Spirit within us keep us faithful!
