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Grace Bible Church is a reformed, baptistic, and evangelical church located in Escondido, CA. Find out more.
Lamb of God, Slain & Exalted: Do You Long for Heaven?
Revelation 5 - I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen ” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
How to Be Truly Successful in Life
How do you measure success? Is it the car you drive and the house you own? Is it in the happiness you enjoy with your family? Or is success achieved by how highly others esteem your accomplishments in life?
This week we will be taking a break from our I Samuel series as we consider Proverbs chapter 3 which tells us how to be truly successful in life. The great Old Testament scholar, Bruce Waltke says of Proverbs 3, This chapter will give you a finer education than you will get from almost any modern university (and I would add at a much cheaper price).
You may remember that the first nine chapters of Proverbs contain several extended discourses which appeal to the reader to seek wisdom. The discourse in Proverbs 3 sets forth the great benefits of wisdom. Verse 4 summarizes the chapter. The one who gains wisdom will be successful in his dealings with both God and man. The chapter goes on to explain four ways you can act wisely towards God and three ways to act wisely towards men, along with resultant blessings.
Some who read Proverbs 3 may question, however, whether the wise are most blessed in this life. Sometimes godly people suffer from disease, calamity, and injustice. There is much more going on in Proverbs 3 than initially meets the eye. The blessings of wisdom are not all experienced in this life. This chapter points to the blessings of wisdom which are sure to come to the wise in the everlasting kingdom of God (for example see verse 18).
Another tension an honest reader experiences is the realization that none of us meet the high standard set by this chapter. This is why we need Christ who has become to us Wisdom from God (I Co. 1:30-31 Col. 2:3). He lived the life of perfect wisdom towards God and men. He died for our sinful folly. He makes us wise.