Finally

Revelation 4 & 5     Eric Boberg

I'm often amazed at advertising's over-use of the word "finally." They will imply that we, along with all our friends and neighbors, long for some little nuanced product that until now has not been available. This could be a special car, a new form of cream cheese, a razor with one more blade, or organic cat litter. The actual modification to existing products is always surprisingly small. It's not like they are touting something equivalent to the first light bulb, micro chip or even velcro. Watching such an ad, I often find myself talking back to the TV, at least in my mind. No I have not been anxiously waiting for product XZY that is now "finally" here; a cure for cancer sure, world peace yes, but not something that's slightly easier to spread on my toast. I just don't care.

But here in Revelation 5 is something that the whole world has been waiting for as long as men and women have walked the earth. Not only that, but it has been God's intention to give them exactly what they need - something they could never provide for themselves. And He intends to do it free of charge.

In this part of Revelation there is great concern in heaven. Great concern for the entire human race. No one is able to open the most sacred of all writings.

 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

But then there is this blast or hope.

5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And later there is this:

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

This whole passage is amazing in so many ways, but what really stands out to me is the inclusiveness of God's love and his plan. I have found myself saying just part of that verse over and over to myself this week: "persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." The family that God calls to himself is incredibly different. They don't look the same or speak the same or have the same form of government. They don't live in the same types of houses and towns or villages. They eat different food and wear different clothes. If you put them all in a room, and somehow they could communicate, someone looking on might think they would have nothing in common, nothing to talk about. But that is so far from the reality. They have something larger that transcends all other things. They have the same Father. They have Jesus the Lamb of God. And we know that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. It's all because of Jesus, the only one in the world who was worthy. The only sinless man. The only one with enough love to die for people who didn't deserve it; that's us, you and me along with all the other tribes languages, peoples and nations. Not only that but Rev 5 states that eventually, when the totality of who Jesus is and what he has done is made known, every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth will worship him. It will not be worship by compulsion, I think, but from revelation.

Jesus, finally - yes finally - Jesus, a Savior for the whole world!