“Come up here, and I will show you…” (Rev. 4:1)
Lord Jesus, sometimes the main thing we need is perspective—to see things from the vantage point you eternally enjoy. You are simultaneously alive to the “echoes of Eden,” the brokenness of the world, the unfolding plan of redemption, and the glory of our coming life in the new heaven and new earth. We don’t think the earth is flat; but sometimes it does feel like we’re living in a giant field of weeds—crabgrass, kudzu, poison ivy, and ragweed. We are good at getting lost in the weeds.
Jesus, by your Spirit, help us understand and experience John’s perspective on the past, present, and future—recorded for us in the Book of Revelation. It’s vantage point you gave Paul when you took him up into the “third heaven” (2Cor.12:2-4)—and have given us through our union with you. For you have already “raised us up and seated us with yourself in the heavenly realms” (Eph.2:6-7). to show us more of the riches of your grace and kindness. Hallelujah, and thank you.
We don’t need new revelation; we need illumination to what you have already given us in the Bible. Free us from our navel-gazing, Scripture-ignoring, news-bite-listening, lost-in-the-weeds ways. Every day—actually, several times a day you say to us:
“Come up here in the Gospel and the pages of the Scriptures. Come up here where my throne is occupied, my peace is palpable, and my joy is irrepressible. Come up here and I will show you more of me—which is what you need more than anything. I’ll also convince you more deeply of evil’s expiration date, who you are in me, and the glories of the new heaven and new earth. Your present sufferings are not worth comparing to the wonders of what I have planned for you (Rom.8:16-25).” Jesus, thank you, and a HUGE So Very Amen.