Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

BUT...

March 15, 2011

Things go out of control in our world--hurt, woe, suffering, hatred. In John's Revelation such rampage is ever apparent. But...

But after three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
- Revelation 11:11,12 TNIV

The vision of bloodshed, plagues, chaos, and the wicked reign of the beast captures our attention. Yet, John continues to see limits and even boundaries to the terror. Evil submits to limits; it's not forever, not without boundaries. And even in the midst of such hell, "the breath of life from God" breaks through.

Apocalyptic words are first heard by those in the crucible themselves. No one volunteers for terror, but in the middle of it, it's life-giving to witness that God is still in charge, always in charge. Terror and evil do not have the last word.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson