I've never been much of a history buff. Well, at least not until I got older and started homeschooling my children. Now, I can't seem to get enough. The "How's and Why's" of time are fascinating to me, along with the "Who's and What's."
So, it's no wonder when we started studying the book of Revelation a few Sundays ago, my interest in the history behind the book was piqued. I've been fascinated by what I have found about the man John the Apostle and the seemingly hopeless situation he was in.
You see, the Roman Emperor Domitian - who believed he was god and demanded to be worshiped in that manner - hated the Christians. Because of this, it wasn't a surprise that when he caught wind of John the Apostle and his teachings of Christ, he had the old man forcibly taken out of his home and dragged to Rome to undergo trial. The Apostle was convicted of not bowing before Domitian and ordered to be put into a vat of boiling oil.
"Wait a minute," you might say, "I thought John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his punishment?" To which I would say, "Yes, he was." "So how was he banished if he died in a vat of boiling oil?" you reply. To which I would say with a grin on my face, "Because he didn't die in the vat of oil. He walked out of it unharmed."
Now, this event is not recorded in Scripture, but it is recorded by other historians as fact. One of these historians, Tertullian, was known for his accuracy in recording historical events, so the miracle that happened in the life of John that day, is in fact, accurate history.
So how could a ruler, who wished to silence the Christian voice of John the Apostle, do so, if he couldn't kill him? The answer was simple. He would send John away from everything and everyone so that his testimony could be contained, and what better place for containment than an island!
Sounds like an evil plan, doesn't it? Yes, but what Satan and men mean for evil, God means for good (Gen. 50:20). He takes those things that threaten our very lives...the things that send us reeling emotionally...the things that isolate us from those we love...the things that seem utterly hopeless and then He uses them to accomplish His purposes in us. Do we see it at the time? Unfortunately, most of the time we don't. We tend to get bogged down in our lives, moment by moment and don't see the big picture. And yet, God takes those moment by moment circumstances and blends them together beautifully, creating a tapestry far more intriguing and wonderful than anything we could ever expect.
How do I know? Well, Scripture cites Truth after Truth of this happening, and Revelation is just one example. For instance, was it a good thing that John was taken from his home, put in a vat of boiling oil, and then exiled to an island? If you were here with me right now, you would hear me emphatically say, with both eyebrows raised, "YES!"
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But in John's "supposed" darkest hour, God revealed Himself the most! Let me repeat that...in John's "supposed" darkest hour, God revealed Himself the most!
Domitian's evil plan didn't stop John from spreading the Word of God. It didn't silence his voice. Instead, it created the avenue for the Word - the final chapter of the life of the Believer and the non-believer - to be birthed into existence. Domitian created the avenue for Christians in John's day, as well as Believers today, to have hope in the coming of Jesus. In other words, he shot himself in the foot...or cut off his nose despite his face...however you want to put it! What Domitian intended for evil, God used for good...much good!
So if you find yourself today, persecuted and uncomfortable...if you find yourself being bullied and badgered for being a Believer...if you find yourself today isolated and alone because of your belief in Christ, suffering at the hands of non-believers...Remember. Sometimes God reveals Himself the most in the "supposed" darkest hours.
Dearest Jesus, thank You for being my God...for speaking the most, revealing Yourself the most to me, during the "supposed" darkest times. You are awesome. You truly are.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
There's a Time for Everything...Even Grief
In the beginning, his name was Rocket. But as he grew into a 120 lb. blue tick hound/lab mix, we realized that the name "Rocket" just wasn't gonna work. So, he became Rocky - our big, lug of a pet.
He was a true friend. He listened well and always agreed with me. : ) He never retaliated if I snapped at him for almost taking my hand off while giving him a snack. All the kids lay on him at one time or another, and he just let it happen. He loved nothing more than to be with us...to be near us...to love on us.
He was a good dog. No. He was a great dog...loved by all who knew him. He scared those that needed to be scared and won-over those that could see past his huge size and deep, resounding bark.
The UPS people loved him.
My neighbors loved him.
My family loved him.
He was our Rocky. He was our friend.
So, today, I sit here on the patio, with tears brimming at the corners of my eyes wishing Rocky was in his normal spot at my feet. But he's not here. We had to say "goodbye" to him a couple of days ago, after 11 years.
"Belinda," you say, "you are normally so cheerful and carefree when you write. What is this? You are making me sad. Stop it!" I wish I could. It would be so much easier to brush off my heaviness and pretend that I'm not sad...but it's not time to do that yet. Right now, it is time to grieve.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
Losing someone or something that you love is never fun. As a matter of fact, death seems to zap all the fun right out of everything...at least for a little while.
Yes, it would be easier to pretend the sorrow didn't exist. I know some people do that. They choose to clench their jaws, tighten their "boot-straps" and go on...somehow thinking that tears are a sign of weakness.
But can I tell you, God doesn't see grief that way. He doesn't see it as something to push aside. As a matter of fact, God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3, to expect it to happen: "To everything there is a season a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and time to build up; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; (v. 1-4).
God doesn't expect us to drop our grief like a burdensome trinket and then move forward. No, He has appointed a "time" for grief. How thankful I am for that today. How thankful I am that in His Word, God doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. He doesn't glance away when we get upset, pretending that everything will be okay. He doesn't tell us to jump up from our position of mourning and pretend that nothing really hurts us. Instead, He gets right in there with us, walking us through the trenches of sorrow and pain, healing our hearts with His gentle reminders of hope: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
If you are in the first part of that verse...the mourning part...please remember, you won't be there forever. Allow yourself some "time" to mourn. Allow yourself some "time" to heal. Allow yourself some "time" to weep. It's okay. The laughter will come, my friend, as you allow God to heal your broken heart through your tears. And the dancing will come, as well...although some of us might want to opt-out of allowing this one to happen in public!
See, I'm not teary anymore, and I actually have a slight smile lifting the corners of my lips. I guess it was just time for a good chuckle.
Thank You, Jesus, that through You, I have hope...even in death. I have joy in memories and await the day when You will make all things right. I love You, Lord.
He was a true friend. He listened well and always agreed with me. : ) He never retaliated if I snapped at him for almost taking my hand off while giving him a snack. All the kids lay on him at one time or another, and he just let it happen. He loved nothing more than to be with us...to be near us...to love on us.
He was a good dog. No. He was a great dog...loved by all who knew him. He scared those that needed to be scared and won-over those that could see past his huge size and deep, resounding bark.
The UPS people loved him.
My neighbors loved him.
My family loved him.
He was our Rocky. He was our friend.
So, today, I sit here on the patio, with tears brimming at the corners of my eyes wishing Rocky was in his normal spot at my feet. But he's not here. We had to say "goodbye" to him a couple of days ago, after 11 years.
"Belinda," you say, "you are normally so cheerful and carefree when you write. What is this? You are making me sad. Stop it!" I wish I could. It would be so much easier to brush off my heaviness and pretend that I'm not sad...but it's not time to do that yet. Right now, it is time to grieve.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
Losing someone or something that you love is never fun. As a matter of fact, death seems to zap all the fun right out of everything...at least for a little while.
Yes, it would be easier to pretend the sorrow didn't exist. I know some people do that. They choose to clench their jaws, tighten their "boot-straps" and go on...somehow thinking that tears are a sign of weakness.
But can I tell you, God doesn't see grief that way. He doesn't see it as something to push aside. As a matter of fact, God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3, to expect it to happen: "To everything there is a season a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and time to build up; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; (v. 1-4).
God doesn't expect us to drop our grief like a burdensome trinket and then move forward. No, He has appointed a "time" for grief. How thankful I am for that today. How thankful I am that in His Word, God doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. He doesn't glance away when we get upset, pretending that everything will be okay. He doesn't tell us to jump up from our position of mourning and pretend that nothing really hurts us. Instead, He gets right in there with us, walking us through the trenches of sorrow and pain, healing our hearts with His gentle reminders of hope: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
If you are in the first part of that verse...the mourning part...please remember, you won't be there forever. Allow yourself some "time" to mourn. Allow yourself some "time" to heal. Allow yourself some "time" to weep. It's okay. The laughter will come, my friend, as you allow God to heal your broken heart through your tears. And the dancing will come, as well...although some of us might want to opt-out of allowing this one to happen in public!
See, I'm not teary anymore, and I actually have a slight smile lifting the corners of my lips. I guess it was just time for a good chuckle.
Thank You, Jesus, that through You, I have hope...even in death. I have joy in memories and await the day when You will make all things right. I love You, Lord.
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