Today’s Guest writer is Iain Rodgers.
Read Revelation, chapter 1, verses from 12 to 18, but pay particular attention to v. 17-18.
John tries to describe the indescribable, the majesty of God in the form of Christ the Judge. He is the Ancient of Days, with hair like wool and white as snow. His eyes blaze with a piercing stare that can see into the very soul of the one before him. His tongue, the sharp two-edged sword of truth, cleaves to the bone and marrow, even to the division of the soul, in judgement. This is not the fairy tale Jesus, the soft, cuddly image we have created in a vain attempt to tame him: this is Jesus, the Lion of Judah, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent; the Christ who is one with the Father; the One who will judge humanity on the last day. This is the God we should fear and worship as the master and creator of all things.
"Is he safe?" asks C.S.Lewis, before answering his own question; "Of course he's not safe, he's a Lion! but he is kind." (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.)
Like John in his vision; like Moses before the burning bush, we are overcome with trepidation in the presence of God and as we recognize his awesome majesty - but then the wonder and the joy as he lays his hand, the right hand of fellowship, on my shoulder: his words soft, gentle and reassuring. Not like a rushing torrent now, but like the soft bubbling of a small stream containing the water of life, "Do not be afraid".
Nor should I be afraid, for I know him as he knows me. he is my God and King, he is my Saviour and Redeemer, he is my Brother and my Friend!
"I am the first and the last": Jesus, who was with God in the beginning and through whom all things were made. He, who will be through all of time and beyond when he creates the new Holy City, he alone has the right and the power as he proclaims...
"I was dead, and behold I am alive again for ever and ever!" He has wrenched the keys of death and Hell from Satan and by his victory on the cross, we, too who were spiritually dead, are alive in him - for ever and ever! Amen!
On Sunday I will post a message on the church website, but on the church’s facebook page we will live-stream some worship and a message. As it is Remembrance Sunday this will start at 10:00am so as not to clash with TV coverage of events at the Cenotaph. If 10am in not convenient, you can watch the video at any time afterwards.
ToyLink: The church hall will be open on Saturday 21st November, 10am to 12noon for gifts of toys for Birmingham City Mission to distribute, but you may prefer to go onto their website and on their toylink page make a donation and they will buy the toy for you.