Heart & Soul

The fifth chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John the Beloved opens upon a scene of majestic tension and mystery.

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice,

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me,

“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5:1-14 (ESV)

The scroll represented a covenant... the mysterious new covenant hidden in plain view for ages upon ages... waiting to be revealed... sealed perfectly with 7 seals... for only someone perfectly worthy would ever be able to reveal its glorious message.

But weep no more!

Worthy is the Lamb!

Even now we cry out: “Holy! You are Holy!”

...as we come to truly behold the mystery and beauty and majesty of our God!

…and especially, even more, as we recognize that none of that could hold Jesus back from humbly surrendering it all to suffer and be the the sacrifice for all our sin!

John, in the power of the Holy Spirit, recorded what he witnessed – and yet, the awe inspired by this depiction of heavenly glory is truly beyond our human comprehension.

This is just a glimpse into the glory that Jesus relinquished and emptied Himself of, in order to be with us and give Himself for us in order to demonstrate for us that steadfast love of God that we read of in Psalm 30… His faithful goodness for those who fear Him.

That love and goodness are the very character – the heart & soul of God that we see on display through the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. Although God’s people were warned of punishment for their sinful rebellion – punishment that would come by exile into Babylon, they were also assured of restoration and reconciliation into a new covenant with their God. In order to enable His people to keep from turning away from Him again, God promises to embed in their hearts the fear and reverence that had only inhabited their minds. With an everlasting covenant, God promises to rejoice in His goodness and faithfulness for them,

“with all my heart & all my soul!” (Jeremiah 32:37-41)

Just let that sink in…

Our God is the God Who pursues us and longs to have fellowship with us and rejoice over us.

We get a picture of that fellowship in John’s Gospel. After Jesus’ resurrection… after He had already appeared to his disciples on a couple occasions… (most of whom, by the way, had fled in fear and abandoned Him in the garden at His arrest).

A few days later, seven of the disciples went out fishing all night. Somehow, once again, they had nothing to show for it. As they were heading back in at daybreak, still about a hundred yards out, they noticed someone on the shore who called to them – asking if they had any fish.

When they said “No,” He told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and assured them they’d find some… and what a massive catch of fish they found! They struggled to even begin to haul it in!

John recognized and announced that it was Jesus. Peter “the impulsive” – that title’s only fair if we call Thomas “the doubter” – immediately threw himself into the sea and swam to shore.

Jesus had a charcoal fire going and told them to bring in some of the fish they caught. Peter himself went back aboard the boat and brought back the net full of 153 large fish. Then Jesus prepared bread and fish on the fire for them and said,

“Come and have breakfast.”

And He served them! Jesus delighted, with all His heart & all His soul, in doing good for tired, hapless fishermen who really needed something to show for all their toil and, especially, a good hearty breakfast by the fire on the seashore.

Now, God doing good for us can come in all shapes and sizes.

In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9:1-9), we read that Saul (his Hebrew name vs. Paul in Greek) was literally breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus – people of the Way as they were known. He obtained warrants and authorization from the high priest to go after more of them in Damascus.

But on the way to kill off some more people of the Way, the Author and Finisher of the Way intercepted Saul – bringing him to his knees in stunned blindness.

Jesus could have just struck Saul dead. But instead, He delighted in showing the goodness and kindness that brought Saul to repentance.

Meanwhile in Damascus, Jesus came to Ananias in a vision (Acts 9:10-16) and had to convince him that indeed, Jesus had chosen Saul “the murderer” to become an instrument of His goodness – to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Jesus told Ananias he’d find Saul on Straight Street in the house of Judas.

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said,

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 9:17-19 (ESV)

The God of majesty and mystery and glory and purity and power and holy love is the God who pursues us – sometimes in the simplicity of a meal and sometimes most miraculous and shocking of ways… because He is the God who delights in doing good for us with all His heart & all His soul!

And it is by His Spirit that He accomplishes and fulfills this great mystery of all the ages. As Paul is describing this goodness of God to the Colossians, he says:

... I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:25-27 (ESV)

The riches of the glory of this mystery!

The hope of glory!

The delight of God … with all His heart & all His soul!

All praise to the Lamb Who alone is worthy… with all our heart & soul!