We've been studying Revelation in Sunday School, and last week we came across John's prophetic commission in Revelation 10. "Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth." (Rev. 10:9)
We talked in Sunday School about how this meant that the joy of the commission must have been overwhelming--what an honor to be clearly called by God and know, without a doubt, what your task was. John has the joy of knowing God's love for him and is assured of God's ultimate victory. He has the privilege of sharing this message, this Good News of God's triumph, with the world.
And yet, it isn't an easy commission. The sweetness of the call is soon followed by the bitterness in the stomach, as John comes face to face with the world's opposition. The message of faithful discipleship, of servant leadership, of submission to Christ's Lordship, is not one the world is overly fond of hearing. Many Biblical prophets have endured periods of deep depression due to the challenges of their prophetic call. Some even wished they had never been born.
As I look at the church in America today, I wonder if we maintain an appropriate sense of balance in our life together. As we engage in ministry in our communities, does the church adequately focus on both the sweetness of God's love and the sense of unease and challenge we should have when we examine our lives through the Gospel lens? It's easy to focus on the love of God--I believe it's a lot harder to focus on our need to be holy, on our need to flee from sin and actively resist its influence in our lives.
I do not pretend this to be an easy task. I do not believe I am successful in maintaining this balance. But I believe I have much to learn from John's task of eating the scroll.
There is much sweetness in the Gospel message. We who have turned from God and chosen to build our own little kingdoms and reign in our own domains have been delivered from slavery to sin, redeemed from death, and brought into eternal life by our gracious Savior, Jesus Christ. The gift of faith is freely given by the Holy Spirit, and through God's work in our lives and we can look forward with hope and joy to eternal life with God. We recognize that our lives have purpose as we are joined to God's greater purpose, and we take confidence that God will use our humble efforts to build his Kingdom here on earth. We are loved infinitely by our Creator, and he has promised there is nothing that can separate us from his love. We should celebrate this Good News!
But a look at the world around us, and our own lives, should cause us some unease. We fail to live up to the standard of discipleship Christ calls us to. The world is not receptive to our call to servant leadership and selfless service, and I think we are not always eager to accept Christ's definition of our neighbor, of how we should view wealth and privilege and honor. We resist the call to law down our lives, and we hesitate to get involved in civic and social structures that oppress. We prefer comfort and often hesitate when Christ asks us to give him all. Our own sin should make us uneasy, and it should sit bitterly on our stomachs.
Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is beginning of knowledge, and Proverbs 8:13 tells us what fear of the Lord is: hatred of evil. So may we hate evil and sin, and come to the Lord with humility. May we, as the church, let ourselves be embraced by the love of Christ, and may the sweetness of his love define our lives. May it lead us to examine our lives, and may we allow the bitterness challenge us to flee from sin, personal and societal. May we not shrink from the call to speak hard truths.
May we balance our proclamation and witness, proclaiming the love of God through our words and deeds, and also naming sin and injustice, however uncomfortable it may be.
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