"And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit ('pit of the abyss'). He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft." (Revelation 9:1, 2-ESV)
Now even though the context here is the release of the locust plague, we know that it is, "the lake of fire," Hell itself which is, "the pit of the abyss."
One of the "hazards" of reading through the whole Bible regularly is the encountering of passages such as today's text. "Hardly a passage for a devotional," one might say. But for me, reading just selected, favorite portions of the Bible over and over is like eating pizza for every meal; just not a well-rounded diet. A spiritual iron deficiency anemia will result.
Now even though the context here is the release of the locust plague, we know that it is, "the lake of fire," Hell itself which is, "the pit of the abyss."
One of the "hazards" of reading through the whole Bible regularly is the encountering of passages such as today's text. "Hardly a passage for a devotional," one might say. But for me, reading just selected, favorite portions of the Bible over and over is like eating pizza for every meal; just not a well-rounded diet. A spiritual iron deficiency anemia will result.
Few texts in reason memory have put the, "fear of the Lord," in me and affected me as this one has/is today. My first thought as I read this was of those who are without Jesus. I really think there are two reasons modern Christendom no longer deals with the reality of such passages. First, modern humanity will just not put up with the idea that its life style has consequences, now and at, "the Judgment." Second, even those of us who say we believe the Bible "from cover to cover" are perhaps so horrified with, "He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace," that we prefer to do a Scarlet O'Hara, "Well, I won't think about this now. I'll think about it tomorrow." But we don't.
Christmas is a reminder that Jesus, the Christ, came to deliver you and me from, "....the shaft of the bottomless pit." This is, "good tidings of great joy," of which we say to ourselves and to humanity, "God rest, ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray." But what about now? What can we do about this fearful reality which is to come upon those who reject the Christ? One thing I do is pray Bible declarations. Father, in Jesus' Name, I ask that You put the fear of You in their hearts; give them a heart to know You (both from Jeremiah), and open their hearts to you (from Acts), that they may, "be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth", (Colossians), receiving You, Jesus, as their Lord and Savior. We cannot ignore our text or any one like it. We cannot pick and choose a "gospel message" which appeals, sells, delights and thrills people. That is "Madison Avenue" christianity. I prefer Jesus', "the power of God to save....from...the shaft of the bottomless pit."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I am fearful, dismayed. I want to pray "largely" today, to pray that no one on Planet Earth experience, "....the shaft of the bottomless pit." Amen.
Christmas is a reminder that Jesus, the Christ, came to deliver you and me from, "....the shaft of the bottomless pit." This is, "good tidings of great joy," of which we say to ourselves and to humanity, "God rest, ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray." But what about now? What can we do about this fearful reality which is to come upon those who reject the Christ? One thing I do is pray Bible declarations. Father, in Jesus' Name, I ask that You put the fear of You in their hearts; give them a heart to know You (both from Jeremiah), and open their hearts to you (from Acts), that they may, "be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth", (Colossians), receiving You, Jesus, as their Lord and Savior. We cannot ignore our text or any one like it. We cannot pick and choose a "gospel message" which appeals, sells, delights and thrills people. That is "Madison Avenue" christianity. I prefer Jesus', "the power of God to save....from...the shaft of the bottomless pit."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I am fearful, dismayed. I want to pray "largely" today, to pray that no one on Planet Earth experience, "....the shaft of the bottomless pit." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
