Taking God seriously
by Pastor Jim Strelan
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They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 9:4).
Read Revelation 9:1–12
I hope you didn’t read this reading just before going to bed. The stuff of nightmares. It has been said that this chapter is the scariest one in the whole Bible. Cataclysmic eruptions, torture, agony, beasts that seem to have both human and animal features, destruction. The Book of Revelation is a lot like that. And it is a book that many Christians have used to interpret their own times, often in ways that suit their own purposes. In humility, we can readily say that so many of these things are difficult to understand. But one thing we can do is look for what God might want to say to us – to you – as you look for something to keep you going each day.
Let me ask you: do you take God seriously? How does God feel about the way we live and the way our society operates? Does he turn a blind eye to our misplaced priorities? How does the One who says there is to be no other god but him feel about those ‘other gods’ we seem to want to bow before? If we take God seriously, should we be afraid?
Yes. And no. Yes, because God will hold us to account. And no, because those who have the seal of God on their foreheads are protected. That is you. All hell can surround you, and the storm can be so destructive it will destroy a lot in its path, but you are protected. God is so serious about you that he finds a way to set you apart from the consequences of his anger, an anger that is real. He calls you ‘son’ and ‘daughter’ and ‘redeemed’.
In the mayhem so vividly described in the Book of Revelation, see God at his most serious, and don’t take that lightly. But also see the little gems that sparkle among all the doom and gloom. In fact, look for them and let them shine into your life.
God who is love, help me to take seriously your warnings but to also take seriously your loving protection. I make the sign of a cross on my forehead in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Pastor Jim is a retired pastor living on Brisbane Northside. He served in Papua New Guinea and as school pastor in a number of schools and congregations with schools. He is married to Ruth and has three children and seven grandchildren and loves them all unconditionally. He loves to share the gospel as simply and clearly as he can.
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