"The eternal perspective" from the books of John, 1 John, 2 John and Revelation.
In all three of these books we hear from the Apostle John of his life with the Master Redeemer. Note his words:
John 1:2 The Word was with God in the beginning; vs 14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
1 John 1:1-2 This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life – and the life was revealed,
1 John 2:2 he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.
Rev 1:4 Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, v 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!
Now try to put yourself onto the island of Patmos and allow yourself to be invited to sit beside John as he reflects upon these words and recalls the past when he and Jesus walked about the earth through the land of Israel, hear his reflections of the Feeding of the 5000 and other miracles and then look deep into his eyes as he looks upon the Crucified Christ and share in his grief. See grief to joy as he tells you about seeing the empty tomb, watch with him as he sees the Master ascend. From there see his eyes as he beholds a man who is in need of healing as he and Peter walked to the Temple, and now see his eyes as he recalls all of this and more and his time as a persecuted prisoner ...I John am on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.
The question before us is how was it that John outlasted all of the Apostles, the Jewish Sanhedrin's "fire", the tribulations and persecution? (and more importantly how do our brothers and sisters across the world as well as ourselves endure times of challenge/tribulation) The answer comes from his own words: vs 10 I was in the Spirit ...which reminds us of Paul's words to the Ephesian church: be filled by the Spirit. The Power of the Illuminating Teacher Holy Spirit was His lifeline to the eternal perspective: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.
Take time today to reflect upon where you have walked and where you are now walking....allow the Spirit to bring to your mind that which is tied to the eternal perspective that you may join Joshua and the cloud of witnesses from Heb 12 to be able to say: be strong and brave! don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do and experience [editor's addition]
