A Greek
proverb says There stands an angel by
every man as soon as he is born to guide him through the mystery of life. George Washington Carver learned to deal
with the mystery of God and life. When
he was young, he asked, God, tell me the mystery of the universe. He sensed that God said back to him, George,
that information is reserved for Me alone. Said George, then reveal to me the mystery of
the peanut. And God said, Well,
George, that's more nearly your size!
What is this
mystery of the universe that God reserves for Himself?
But it was to us that God revealed these
things by his Spirit. For his Spirit
searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 1 Corinthians 2:10
The deep things of God are his domain. Somewhat like the answer Mr. Carver got about
knowing the mysteries of the universe, they are too deep for us. However, in Revelation 5, John describes a
scene that is like a committee meeting in heaven. The committee of angels and onlookers are
gathered 'round the throne of God. The
Lord is holding up a book and poses a question to the house:
DOES ANYONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPEN
THIS BOOK?
The natural question for an observer would
be: What book? Today we are going to investigate that
mysterious book held in the hand of God.
It’s a HIDDEN Book
Revelation
5:1-4
Then I saw a
scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the
outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And
I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break
the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in
heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no
one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.
The mystery is sealed in a book -- held in the
right hand of God. The book in question
is obviously about life, humankind, and God's purposes. John wept bitterly because (seemingly) no one
in heaven or earth, past or present, had the authority to view the book's
contents. Without that answer, life
loses meaning. Without a clear view of
the meaning of life or man's purpose, life is not worth living.
Sigmund Freud, in his human (so-called) wisdom,
concluded that anyone who searches for the meaning of life is mentally unbalanced
because there is no meaning to life. Ernest
Hemmingway accepted that and eventually blew his brains out with a shotgun. Without meaning there is no purpose to life,
and who can live with that?
By comparison, Scripture informs us (without
stuttering) that life has both meaning and purpose, and both are wrapped-up in
Jesus Christ.
This book is hidden, or sealed, indicating that
God will reserve certain truths to Himself.
It is like the summer camp counselor who had all his 7-year-olds
gathered around for a nature lesson. At
one point, a bright boy asked, Brother Bob, how come God made poison ivy? Brother Bob was stuck for an answer until
another youngster bailed him out. I
guess, started the explanation, He wanted us to know there are just some
things we're supposed to keep our cotton-pickin' hands off!
The book in God’s hands is hidden from human wisdom. Who, then, is
it that is worthy to open the book? That
brings us to a second implication for
this Hidden Book:
It’s HIS Book
Revelation
5:5-7
But one of
the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to
open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb that
looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the
throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which
represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of
the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from
the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.
John's grief abruptly ends when one of the 24
elders steps forward to shift the focus
to the power and person of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus is the Lion of Judah, the kingly line
of David. His power prevailed at
Calvary. Death and the grave could not
hold the slain lamb. Horns and eyes
stand for strength and all-encompassing authority and knowledge. The seven Spirits of God indicates perfection
or fullness in God's will.
He was a lamb at the first coming, a willing
offering to pay the price for our sins.
He allowed himself to be stripped naked, and nailed spread-eagle to a
cross at the town garbage dump. He prevailed in that. Satan couldn't keep Him in the tomb.
A further truth is for the future; Jesus will NOT
be a lamb the next time. It is HIS book,
and it contains what He wills. The next
time He will be the lion! He is coming
for his church, His bride. And He will
not be happy with a world that has continually thumbed its nose at his
church!
The next time he brings no mild-mannered “gentle
shepherd" smile; the next time it is the Man of Steel! The next time He brings a sword and a
victory!
God’s book is a hidden book,
it’s His book, and...a third implication,
It’s a HOPE Book
Revelation 5:8
And when he
took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb. Each one had a harp,
and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s
people.
It is so comforting to know that the prayers I
have sent heaven-ward are still there!
In some way (which none of us
understands) the prayers of all the saints of all time are preserved for
God's pleasure.
·
The prayers you prayed in the deepest hour of despair
are held before the throne day and night.
·
The prayers you lifted in secret for those
missionaries and your pastor, and the broken-hearted saint down the road are a
matter of incense that fills the very throne-room of God.
·
All those tears you shed in prayer for a wayward child
or spouse, or friend are mingling with the host of heaven.
Those tears stain the carpets of glory, and God
knows! There is hope in this. Your prayers did not fade into the
night.
We need hope.
Some say: As long as there is life there is
hope.
Not so! It should read: As long as there is hope there is life!
Duke University did an experiment with rats. They wanted to see the effect of hope. In one deep pool of water they put a rat; there
was no hope of escape. He swam a few
moments, then ducked his head to drown.
In another deep pool they arranged some possible means of escape. The rat swam for several hours, exploring for
the ways out, before drowning in exhaustion.
Hope gives life.
Friend, you may feel like a drowning rat in this
difficult world. There is hope in Jesus
Christ alone. And where there is the
hope of Christ there is life!
It's His hidden hope
book, and one final implication,
It’s a Hallel Book
Revelation 5:9-14
(Hallel is the Hebrew
equivalent of our word for "praise")
And they sang
a new song with these words: “You are
worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has
ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of
priests for our God. And they will
reign on the earth.” Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of
thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and
the elders. And they sang
in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb
who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and
honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea. They
sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and
power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and
ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and
worshiped the Lamb.
The Bible also says that God inhabits the praises of His people. Praise is going to be long and lavish in
heaven. I dare say that those who don't
enjoy praising God in worship here on earth would probably do well to trade in
their ticket – they won't enjoy what happens beyond the pearly gates!
A Pastor I listened to on radio years ago suggested that we begin to
practice praising now. He said after all...you don't learn to praise in a day, especially since you may have been
complaining for years! New habits take
time to develop. But you can begin
today, and practice tomorrow, and the next day, until it becomes a part of you.
Praise can become a contagious habit.
Alexander Whyte, the Scottish preacher, always began his prayers with an
expression of gratitude. One cold,
miserable day his people wondered what he would say. He prayed: We thank Thee, O Lord, that
it is not always like this.
19th century Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon said:
Praise is the
honey of life which a devout heart extracts from every bloom of providence and
grace.
Praise is that which comes out of a heart, for which something
wonderful and mighty has been done!
Donald Grey Barnhouse was a pastor obsessed with the praise of
God. (Should
we not all be?) Barnhouse imagined
the bitter mind of the insurrectionist, Barabbas, and how he awaited execution
in the Jerusalem prison. There was
another trial going on the night before his date with a cross. That strange little rabbi who went around
teaching people to love their enemies and healing lepers, was being convicted
of heresy. Suddenly, Barabbas was out on
Pilate's porch, and so was Jesus. The
crowd screamed for Jesus' head. Give us Barabbas.
What shall I do with this
man, Jesus?
Crucify him -- Crucify him!
Barnhouse wrote this of Barabbas:
"He was the only man in the world who could say that Jesus Christ
took his physical place. But I can say
that Jesus Christ took my spiritual place. For it was I who deserved to die. It was I who deserved that the wrath of God
should be poured on me. I deserved the
eternal punishment of the lake of fire. He
was delivered up for my offenses. He was
handed over to judgment because of my sins – Christ was my substitute. He was satisfying the debt of divine justice
and holiness. That is why I say that
Christianity can be expressed in the three phrases:
· I deserved hell.
· Jesus took my hell.
· there is nothing left for me but His heaven."
When I think of this in my own life I have to say with Eugene Peterson:
The fetus of
praise grows deep in my spirit.
This book and its contents are
1. hidden for now,
2. but all of it is His.
3. it gives me hope,
4. and the strength to praise.
Praise Him, I will -- until He calls me home!
And then I'll praise Him there!
Some images in public domain Pixabay
#/media/File:Gustave_Dore_Inferno32.jpg){kind=link}
