I think of all the times I hear Christians talking about Jesus, and I wonder: how many of us actually know him? We are living in an age where we are more prone to quote preachers than we are Scriptures, and so I often think that our view of Jesus may be distorted based upon the lens we view Him under. In all Honestly, there are only two real ways to view Jesus. The First way, and this is the poisonous path, is to look at Jesus based upon what we desire to see. I once quoted scripture to a person, and described in detail, through the scriptures, Jesus' words, actions, and emotions, first as He flipped tables over, twice, in the temple, then as He pronounced woes on the Pharisees, and finally, times when He openly rebuked people who came to see Him. She looked at me, almost dumbfounded, and said "well, I couldn't imagine Jesus doing that!" Sometimes, we're like Ricky Bobby and his family around the dinner table (I've added a clean version of that below), describing Jesus as we want to see Him, and not as He is. We view Him based on our wants, wishes, and desires, rather than out of a need of a savior. The only way to see Jesus as He is (and only as much as our finite minds can comprehend) is through Scripture, as the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us. You see, Church, we can only take Jesus as He is, and not as we would have Him to be. Jesus does not change, he does not faint, he does not grow weary (Isaiah 40:31). He is the same yesterday as He is today as He will be tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8), He does not bend and move based on our emotional outbursts (Isaiah 55:8-9). He is the King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15) , ruling at the right hand of the Father in Glory and Power (Ephesians 1:20–23). He is the ultimate authority. He Created all things, and holds all things together (John 1). Do you know Him this way? What's holding you back? Get in to the word of God and discover just how wonderful, powerful, and amazing our King is!
Revelation 22 English Standard Version (ESV)
The River of Life
22 Then the angel[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Jesus Is Coming
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,[c] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.[d] Amen.
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