Eeyore..............I'm an Eeyore. I took this cute little personality test from the Winnie the Pooh site and it said I had the personality of Eeyore. That really didn't come as much of a surprise to me, nor to those who know me. I have always tended to be quite synical and pessimistic by nature, although I prefer to claim it as being rationally realistic. So as I share with you my reflections on God's Word, maybe you can help me decide whether I am being a realist........or if I am being too much of an Eeyore.
Remember these lines from the movie Ghost? Sam says: "Molly, you're in danger girl." And Oda Mae interrupts and says: "You can't just blurt it out like that! And quit moving around, because you're starting to make me dizzy. I'll just tell her in my own way." Then after a pause, Oda Mae says to Molly; "Molly girl,...........You're in Danger."
For some reason, these words came to mind as I was reading the first three chapters of the book of Revelation. John is writing to the Church, the Body of Christ, particularly to the seven churches of the province of Asia. Nearly 30 years have passed since the time of Paul, and we now see strong, vibrant, established churches. John is commissioned by Christ to write a letter to the Church to "testify to everything he sees, that is, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. To write what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." Verse three says; " Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written, because the time is near." Now quite clearly this verse offers a great promise, a promise of blessing. But I can't help but also sense in these words great urgency......almost as if John is saying, those who do not "read, hear and take to heart" these words are in serious trouble.
So Revelation begins with this intro, this prologue. Then, before we get to the great Revelation of Christ, those things that are to come, the seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls, the return of Christ, the Great White Throne Judgement and the New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem............John takes two chapters (2 & 3) to address the churches directly with the words of Christ. Now this is where I may need a bit of help with my Eeyore problem. Because, although I recognize in these letters words of encouragement and even commendation to the churches, I can't help but come away with hearing...............well, to use Oda Mae's words; "Church,........ you're in danger girl."
Four times in these chapters, the church is told to "Repent." They are warned of a number of things; they are in danger of false teachings, idolatry, and sexual immorality. They are told that they have "fallen from the heights they were once at", that they have "forgottten their first love." They are warned that they are "lukewarm, rich, complacent, and blind" and about to be spit out by Christ himself. They are told that they think they are alive.......but they are really Dead, and warned to "Wake up........remember what you have recieved and heard, obey it, and repent." This all is coupled with the fact that this is not the only place we hear such harsh words against the Church. In the prophetic words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Malachi, and others..............we read the same harsh, in your face warnings from God about the spiritual condition of His people. Yet, it seems to me that very little of this message, this need for repentance and return to Christ, is coming out of many pulpits today. We seem to hear more of an; "I'm ok.......you're Ok" message. I heard a pastor once say that the main problem of the Church today is not their spiritual shortcomings..............but their failure to see their spiritual shortcomings. Comfort and complacency has a terrible blinding affect. It's almost as if Satan has decided that his best attack on the church is not direct persecution, but to simply allow us to believe that everything is ok.
So help me out here..............am I being too much of a pessimist...........or is this all very Real?
When I look at the letters to the Churches, I see the same message that is to be proclaimed to all of creation. Believe. Believe in the sufficiency and security of jesus and the redemptive work done for me. Examine myself and correct areas I have strayed from dependence on christ. Remember my sin and my desperate need. Remember that he has fulfilled the law on my behalf. To rejoice and live a life of thanks and apprection to my savior and god. To receive anew each morning the forgiveness, mercy, and strength that are mine in christ. And to live to share the living bread I have found with other poor beggers.
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