Sermon snippet – Simply Heaven – Part XIII
INTRODUCTION – We continue in our efforts to fulfill the gracious command of Colossians 3:1-2 to focus our attention “on things above.” In Revelation 19:11-16, we again find “heaven opened” (verse 11). Appropriately, this opening of heaven to us is a revelation of the nature of Jesus Christ, God the Son.
- JESUS SUCCEEDS WHERE WE FAIL
In verse 11, Jesus is correctly characterized as “Faithful and True.” We would like to be faithful and true always, but we are not. Every sin is evidence of faithlessness and falsehood. We mean well, but we sometimes fail. However, Jesus succeeds. He keeps His promises (Hebrews 10:23), thus providing the basis for us to pursue faithfulness. I Corinthians 10:13 confirms that He helps in all of our trials; part of that help is this very promise, based on His character. Further aid comes from the personal intervention of Jesus; II Thessalonians 3:3 tells us that He protects us from Satan (“evil” means “evil one”). II Timothy 2:13 and Hebrews 13:5 remind us that Jesus never forsakes us. I John 1:9 confirms that He forgives our sins – every last one of them! Jesus is “True.” He is genuine, without any hypocrisy. Truly, Jesus succeeds where we fail.
- JESUS KNOWS WHILE WE ARE IGNORANT
Verse 12 says that there are limits to what we can know (Deuteronomy 29:29; I Corinthians 13:9-12). Matthew 11:27b says of Jesus that “no man knoweth the Son, except the Father.” Jesus in the fullness of His divine nature cannot be known fully by mere man. Still, Jesus is able to teach us what we need to know about salvation through faith in Him and about following Him as disciples. We will learn more in eternity. In fact, part of the joy of heaven will be learning more from and about our eternal and infinite Savior.
- JESUS REVEALS WHEN WE ARE BLIND
In verse 13, Jesus is called “The Word of God.” John 1:1, 14 and I John 1:1-4 make it clear that Jesus came to us as the Word to reveal Himself. We were not looking to see God; we could not see Him because we are spiritually blind. Even believers can have blind spots (Revelation 3:17) because we still possess a sin nature. Jesus must reveal Himself, for otherwise we would never see Him.
- JESUS REIGNS REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO
Verse 16 tells us that, whether we acknowledge Him or not, Jesus is “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” It is true even if we say that it is false, but we have the blessed opportunity to acknowledge this truth now and receive the eternal salvation that Jesus offers.
CONCLUSION – It is impossible to think of heaven without Jesus or of Jesus without heaven. Oh, but it happened! It happened when Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary; it continued through His birth, ministry, and death on the Cross for our sins. May we marvel at the immensity of this Savior’s sacrifice, and may we all be certain of everlasting life in heaven through faith in Him.