Shocking Revelation for Christians in 2021
By Caron Cline
Burke County
The year 2020 on the Gregorian calendar coincides with the Hebrew years 5780-5781 because the Jewish New Year celebration, Rosh Hashanah, occurs during our month of September. The year 5780 ushered in a new decade with a focus on speaking forth. The Hebrew letter for 80 is also the Hebrew word for ‘mouth’. Interestingly, this Jewish year in which many prophesied a new decade for speaking the word of God became a year in which mouths were covered by masks, pulpits and churches were emptied, and the normal routines of life restricted. Businesses have closed, virtual education has replaced the norm, and fear of the unknown invades our thoughts. A quick survey would reveal that the average American anxiously awaits the close of 2020. But will 2021 be an improvement? Or will it hold more of the same? What is the call of God to His people during times of tribulation? Jesus promised that in this world we would have tribulation, but we were to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world! The average Christian is seemingly more full of fear than cheer. Obviously, there is a disconnect at some point. We must accept that crossing the threshold of 2021 will not erase the many afflictions of 2020; in reality, the pressures of a world in turmoil will intensify. God has entrusted His people to this very season. Acts 17 reminds us that God has appointed our times and the boundaries of our habitation; we are in this place, at this time, on purpose! Therefore, we must realign our focus, restore our worship, and resume our mission.
Isaiah was already a prophet in Israel when King Uzziah died, after reigning for 52 years. He was a king ‘who did right in the eyes of the Lord’. (2 Chronicles 26) The temptation must have been strong to place the hopes and dreams of a nation upon King Uzziah rather than God. Satan deceives many into believing that the problems in our land are political and cannot be resolved otherwise. Isaiah must have struggled with the same thoughts until God realigned his focus. Isaiah 6:1-5 are his own testimony: “In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the Temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory’. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of Him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts’”. Isaiah received a revelation that God was on the throne and that He had all power in heaven and in the earth. His reign was eternal and no one can thwart His purposes. Instead of focusing on the political scene, the dangers of a mysterious and deadly virus, and a volatile economy, the writer of Hebrews commands us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12) After all, “our citizenship is in heaven from which we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory…” Settling the question of Who is on the throne of our lives will restore our worship.
The angels surrounding the throne of God are in a constant state of worship. Isaiah witnessed their unending praises for the One who holds all things together by the power of His Word. As John was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the isle of Patmos, more snapshots of heavenly worship are released. Revelation 4:8-11 says, “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come’. And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sits on the throne, to Him Who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the throne, and will worship Him Who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created’”.
Never-ending worship is our eternal destiny and as we bring the sacrifice of praise before the throne of grace while here on planet earth our troubles will diminish in a crescendo of thanksgiving. God always inhabits the praises of His people and His Presence extinguishes the schemes of Satan, our adversary. As we realign our focus and restore our worship the Lord will set before us an open door that we might resume our mission. That mission, if we choose to accept it, is the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the state of our society, the shutdowns, the mayhem, the anxiety, and the frustration, the power of the word of God is unhindered. More than ever, people are seeking peace, hope, and comfort amid this global pandemic. As ambassadors of the Prince of Peace our mission is simple; be prepared to offer an answer for the hope that is within. Study the Word, meditate upon it, memorize it, and expect the Spirit of God to open doors of opportunity to share the good news of a God who loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will never perish but will have eternal life. Jesus Christ came into this world to seek and to save the lost. After His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus spent forty days instructing His followers on the kingdom of God, commanding them to go into all the world and make disciples. He then ascended into heaven, sat down at the right hand of God, and assumed the role of our eternal Intercessor. He is anxiously awaiting the day when His bride is complete and made ready for His return. However, for some mysterious reason, we have been commissioned to participate in this rescue mission. The time has come for us to set our minds on the things above, not on all the insanity surrounding us each day. May we realign our focus, restore our worship, and resume our mission. The world is waiting…
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Caron is a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Morganton, NC. She loves to teach the word of God.
Her desire is to see every believer grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Read more good Christian news from Caron HERE.
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