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Revelation 15:1-4
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
New International Version (NIV)
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What is your favorite victory song? At sports championships, the speakers often blare the song by Queen, “We are the champions, my friend . . .” At the Kentucky Derby they used to play the Dan Fogelberg song, “Run for the Roses,” with the memorable line: “it’s the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance; and it’s high time you joined in the dance.” I know. I misspent my youth watching sports events. But if you accomplished your goal and achieved your highest calling, what background music would you choose for your celebration dance?
As the plagues come to their much desired end on the earth, heaven sings a victory song to the accompaniment of harps. On the day Evil is finally vanquished and the Beast bested, when good triumphs once and for all, the victorious inhabitants of heaven sing about God. As the book of Psalms does in the Old Testament, the book of Revelation shares songs of worship in the New Testament. I have long suspected that life, fully lived, is a musical. When John looked through the door of heaven he heard memorable music. Was it anthems or gospel, Gaither or Crowder? None of the above. In heaven they sing ancient songs about God which are new to us, yet familiar.
“Through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come . . .” Worship, and life finally point us to our victorious God. One way to study the Bible is to consider first, what does this passage tell us about God? Those who finally defeat evil sing about God’s deeds and ways. They laud him as awesome, glorious, holy and righteous. Once again we get a glimpse of the worship of our majestic King. In the end, all the nations serve and worship one King, the Lord. When the dust settles, he wins. We can stake our lives on it.
At the celebration service for our sister and fellow servant, Cherry Mitchell on November 14, we will sing one of her favorite songs, “Victory in Jesus.” They sing a lot about that in heaven. Because Jesus wins in the end, we want to be with him. The redeemed slave trader, John Newton had it right, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.” So this Sunday or even sooner, if you hear the song, be sure to sing.
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Pray with me:
Father, we thank you that plagues will end. More, we thank you that Evil loses in the end. Sometimes we forget that you are undefeated. Let us exult in your ultimate victory as we worship you together. May our voices be caught up powerfully with the voices which sing above. May Christ be our focus from the beginning to the end of this day. Remind us again and again of your greatness. Bring to mind a song of victory today and fill our hearts with your joy. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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