Going beyond the roar
5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7–ESV)
This angel from heaven moved beyond merely grabbing attention. He had an announcement to make and did so with a raised right hand. There was no wavering or questioning. He did not vacillate or wonder about whether or not God should really be in charge. This angel was all in for God’s purpose and betokened that by the raised right hand and calling God himself as witness for what he was saying.
He had come down from heaven and while on earth raised his arm back to that highest place and the author of all things. God is the one who lives forever and ever. To him allegiance is properly given for no one is before him nor will anyone come after him. God is eternal. God also made the heavens and all in them and the land and the sea. Nothing that is seen or will be seen is independent from God. All have their roots squarely in the midst of his intentions.
Who or to whom would you raise your right hand to in allegiance? Now here is a harder question: Do you raise that right hand right now in confidence? (I don’t mean in a worship setting, but in the daily setting, the application of God’s principles to your “now”.)
This angel knew God and from confidence made the announcement of announcements.
No instant grits, but at least they are cooking
Think back to Seal #5. The martyrs under the altar of incense cried out, “How long, O Lord?” They were given a non-specific answer, an answer that required them to continue to react faith and be patient. The patience will little longer be needed as an angel of God arrived pointing out that they delay was done.
Now the world was not to be suddenly fixed. So much had yet to shift and twist, slide and turn, but it was doing just that. The final plays were happening.
This is the way our world is too. Good things are not instant things. The week I wrote this lesson my youngest daughter had gotten it into her head to get a Fitbit. The one she wanted was about $150. I don’t like to impulsively put $150 devices on my daughter’s arms and don’t readily facilitate what they would consider dreams. Too often they are fads. A $10 fad like a fidget spinner is far different than one 15 times that price. Well, we had heard there were $30 off-brands at Target. “Nope, only online,” we found out. Same thing at Walmart. 2nd & Charles? Nothing there. See I wanted to get that $30 variety for her and I wanted it NOW. Now was not to be. Eventually as the dust of decision settled we ordered a well reviewed $37 activity tracker from Amazon. I had found $90 barely used Fitbits on craigslist, but low and behold my daughter had morphed to our opinion that she should try a cheaper variety before the expensive one.
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