“Pushing Toward the Finish”


BIBLE READING: Revelation 14
                                                                                                                                           
                As John’s magnificent vision continues, we find on few occasions where a voice from Heaven specifically calls John to “Write this…”.  Every time I read those words my mind immediately goes back to my school days when the teacher would specifically tell us to write something down.  That meant she had something that was so important for us to know that we better write it down, because it would be useful to us later.  That could not be truer than with this occasion.  The words the voice from Heaven asked John to write are not only important for us to know, but they are words that will keep God’s people comforted, strengthened and motivated until He returns.  “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." " Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14:13). The word blessed means “fortunate, well off and happy”.  Although the early Christians did have a joy about them because they had been bought with the blood of Jesus, the word “fortunate” or “well off” was not something that they considered themselves to be.  In fact, they probably believed they were more of the opposite of these terms due to their persecution.  Yet, these words can reveal to them in their circumstance, as well as ours, a comfort in knowing that if I die in Jesus I certainly will be “fortunate” and “well off”.   Knowing that that impending “rest’ from their labors is coming, they are far more likely able to endure.  When runners are participating in a race, there usually seems to be a point in the race that they feel drained and exhausted;  Yet if they are able to see the finish line, their body produces adrenaline which gives them that boost they need to finish.  As Christians, that boost comes in knowing the rest is coming…we just have to keep pushing towards the finish. 


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