Unmask yourself!

May 18, 2020 (Monday)

 

“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” [Revelation 6:12 – 14 NIV]

 

Notice this earthquake may be literal or symbolic. The land around Jerusalem is subject to frequent earthquakes. John, probably based in Ephesus, was familiar with earth quakes since Ephesus was destroyed by earthquakes many times. The question is if this is the whole earth shaking, or if it is a local earthquake, or if it is created by weapons John did not understand. (See Isaiah 34:4)

 

Remember, war is part of this section of Revelation. The sun turned black, the moon turned blood red, and stars fell from heaven. If it were to happen today, this might be a first century description of a war that includes missiles… possibly nuclear (or worse). The reference to the stars may also be a jibe at the Greek and Roman gods who were supposedly depicted in the stars.

 

"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’”  [Revelation 6:15 – 17 NIV]

 

Keeping with the idea of a literal war (or series of wars) makes sense considering these events seem to be sequential to the four horseman mentioned earlier in the chapter. The idea of taking shelter maybe an image of a nuclear war (or worse). However, there is a strong acknowledgement that the earthquake and its fall out is attributed to “the wrath of the Lamb.” The area surrounding Jerusalem its mountains contain many caves. In fact, Nazareth was probably a community of cave dwellers.

 

All judgment is attributed to Jesus in Revelation. People outside a right relationship with God, fear God more than death. The mistake is believing death will save them, or be a mercy, when instead it puts them squarely in God’s court of justice. C.S. Lewis’ proposed the eternal "lake of fire" may be God’s final mercy to the lost. The presence of God would be worse than any form of eternal punishment.

 

An idea is reinforced in this passage: theology precedes behavior. People will ultimately act on what they believe. If one believes there is no God, then life proceeds from that presumption. If one relies on the unlimited grace of God to cover sins; it may create a thought that sin is unacceptable but proceed on the assumption of future sins already forgiven. The problem here is why did John instruct believers to repent? “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” [1 John 1:9 NLT] The equally bad theology is to believe we can somehow attain a “sinless” state. Or as John put it, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” [1 John 1:8 NLT] It’s not God’s grace that fails, it’s us. It's the self-deceiving masks we wear, thinking we are protected.

 

The believer can sin, failing in doing or omitting (failing to do). What we do next unmasks what we really believe. Adam tried to hide from God, refusing to accept responsibility for his sin. At the end, these people know the truth about Jesus, yet they try to hide. Our choices are simple. 

• Hide from God, doesn’t work. 
• Hedge our responsibility in sin, doesn’t work. 
• Humble ourselves, allowing God to forgive and cleanse. Augustus Toplady describe it as the “double cure, saved from wrath and make me pure.” (Hymn: “Rock of Ages”)

 

Don’t find yourself in a cave of a critical decision praying for the rocks to fall on you. BECAUSE you know that sin you are about to willful commit (or omit) unmasks your genuine unbelief in God’s grace and mercy. Your willful sin rightfully exposes the weakness of a life you have not yielded to God, or possibly not yet covered by the blood of Jesus. Argue all you want, “If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.” [1 John 2:4 – 5 NLT]