Recently I was sitting with a friend and we were marveling over the prophetic insights that are written in the book of Revelation. As we read and reflected, we were amazed that the foretelling, which I’m sure once seemed intangible and confusing, is being refocused into more and more of a reality each day for us. Imagine being told thousands of years ago that the great Euphrates River would run dry, and when it does, a third of planet earth would be killed (Revelation 9). In case you haven’t seen it, many parts of the Euphrates River are currently bone dry. It is believed that it could be completely dissolved by the year 2042.
Consider Revelation 11, that centuries ago spoke about a time coming in which people from every tribe and nation of the world would be witnesses at the same time to an isolated event that is tragically unfolding. If I was alive even a hundred years ago I would have probably dismissed that idea fairly quickly, having no real capacity or space in my mind to understand that. But in today's modern world with cell phones and televisions just about everywhere you turn, that doesn’t seem like a distant and improbable idea.
These passages and more gave my friend and I a refreshing reassurance that God is real and the scriptures are true and trustworthy. And if they are true and trustworthy, then the sobering reality is that there is much persecution, trouble, and sorrow coming our way. A battle that already exists that will violently snowball resulting in a brutal awakening for the bride of Christ as well as the rest of planet earth. Praise the Lord that we don’t have to be surprised by this. He invites us in the present time to be alert and of sound mind, and absent of fear, even in the presence of our enemies (1 Peter 5:8-9, Psalm 23).
With all of these thoughts circling in my head, I came home from work, grabbed my Bible, and immediately sat down on the couch. I had no idea the powerful voice of God was about to pierce my heart and completely wreck me. Despite the circus taking place with my children banging on the piano and running and screaming down the hallway, I began to pray. “Lord, would you make me brave?” I asked. I was caught off guard when I heard a gentle voice respond to me with, “why?”. I said, “Jesus, I want to be willing to die for you.” I was unprepared for what the Lord said next. He firmly, yet graciously gave his response. He said, “Jared it’s not the brave that are willing to die for me, it's those who love me.”
That statement was like a bucket of water being dumped on a very dry soul. It brought me to tears as I sunk back deeply into the cushions of the couch, which seemed like the only thing sustaining me from falling through the earth. That simple phrase was like the shepherd's staff redirecting my path from the false appearance of a noble pursuit and right back into the heart of the Father. My good intentions were exposed as a counterfeit hope, and I was consumed with a sudden awareness that God knows best.
It wasn’t till later (when I was writing this out) that the Lord prompted my heart to repent. In my pride and arrogance I asked God for what I thought I needed instead of letting Him show me what He knows I need. I suppose I’m still learning to be content as a son and to let my Father provide because I know that He delights in doing so. Is there grace for my mistakes? You bet. But it is problematic if I continually and constantly trust in my own wisdom for solutions. God has the ability to humble us in an instant. In His great love, He can and will remind us of who is in control, especially if it leads us to a greater dependency of Him.
I genuinely thought if I had more courage and bravery that I wouldn’t succumb to the fear of losing my life for Jesus. Although that makes sense in the natural eyes of the world, it’s not what truly overcomes fear in our life. It’s love. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” Love propels and motivates our hearts into the most difficult and dangerous missions. Although bravery has the potential to lead us into radical obedience, it usually is birthed out of slavery to something we don’t actually want to do. If it’s something you actually wanted to do, you wouldn’t need courage. Your heart would delight in it and move forward in it naturally, because you love it or you love the one you are doing it for.
I believe a discipline the Lord is teaching His church today is to delight in our hardships. To consider it pure joy to endure suffering for His righteousness. Where there is an unwillingness to submit to suffering for Jesus, there you will find at best, a lukewarm heart that fosters many other loves of things we’ve given our affections over to. What we love, is undoubtedly what we will sacrifice for. Jesus is exposing in the American church what we love, and sadly, it’s not much of him. Thankfully, because of the hope of Christ, whatever He reveals in His light, He can purify with His blood. He is purifying what worship in His House looks like. It will in the days to come continue to look more and more like a people walking in sacrificial obedience that flows out of a genuine trust and love for the person of Jesus Christ. I long to see it. I long for my kids to see it.
Lord, teach us to walk in a deep and burning love for you! May the Church be willing to look foolish and weak so we can learn to depend on you and what you alone can provide. Amen.
