Author: Wick

In Revelation Chapter 9, John continues to speak of what it’s like when God’s Kingdom comes in the midst of a broken, fallen Babylon, world.  I remember hearing these verses when I was young, and wondering why in the world the God of both Old and New Testaments would suddenly be interested in creating a world straight out of a horrible B-Movie you’d watch around midnight while eating way too much ice cream.

Seriously….giant horse-like, human-faced locusts?

John makes it obvious to his readers in verse 4, that these locusts are not actually locusts at all.  After all, grass/green growth/trees are about all genuine locusts are interested in devouring.  But leading into this section, verses 1 and 2 point us toward an understanding/reading that is less science fiction, and more revealing why Christ’s Kingdom coming is so needed:

Verse one – Lucifer being cast out, and given keys….not to death/hades…but simply to a “shaft” leading there.  Should be obvious here, this isn’t something that’s “going to” happen in end times.  This is something that has happened.  We continue to read with that understanding.

Verse two – the sin released impacts not only humanity, but creation as well.  This point is more expanded in the previous chapter 8, where it talks more broadly about the impact sin has had on this broken world.

Verse three – we see sin becoming more actively described here, as locusts.  Locusts that impact those whose mode of being (forehead) is not marked by Christ more harshly than those of us made free from them.

Verse five & six- humanity will not helplessly lose life simply due to sins existence.  But sin will definitely impact humanity from it’s beginning to end.  The life cycle of a locust is about 5 months, which seems to point to humanity being tortured by sins existence without a break, as long as it exists…with no relief.

Verses seven & eight – sin can begin as simply an attractive option.  Deceptively “beautiful” in many regards, comforting our egos, our wallets, and our esteem.

Verse nine – sin also allures us with promises of power, control, and dominance.

Verses ten through twelve – sin is by nature destructive, painful, leading to suffering, and evil.  It destroys individuals, relationships, and entire communities, and it’s source is the “fallen star”…who’s focus was self.

May we continue to study the Word of God, and not be afraid of the book that promises to be a Revelation of Jesus Christ…

I’ve been married for almost 8 years now, so I obviously know everything there is to know about marriage.  But stay with me…

An interesting illustration was made this past week, that I felt worth repeating/fleshing out.  Many of us have heard of the “IQ” or “Intelligence Quotient” tests.  These tests do not measure how smart a person is.  They don’t speak of what has happened, is happening, or will happen.  These tests simply pointed to the “potential” level of mental capacities a person has.

In a marriage, there are many aspects and topics that can be discussed.  Communication in both directions, both of difficult topics and joyful words from the heart, can be an area that couples struggle in simply due to varying modes of “Love Languages”.  Many more topics flow out of this, the marriage relationship, that has often been identified as one of, if not THE most important relationship with a human God offers us.  A relationship from which so many others can flow from.  The importance of doing this one well….is huge.

In Ephesians chapter 5, we hear the word of God to both husbands and wives.  It speaks about submission in love.  The illustration used this past week was the comparison of a “submission quotient” to the “IQ” tests.  the “SQ” of a couple can be a great indicator of how healthy their marriage is/can be.  Not a guarantee or proof.  The beautiful thing about an “SQ” is that God offers to help us increase it on a regular basis, in our relationship with him.  Most of us would naturally score fairly low on the “putting others before ourselves” area.  But so much of our journey in Christ is about being released from our selves, and directed toward a care/love/concern for the other.

I’m not sure what Sarah and my “SQ” score would be.  I’m certain it’s better when hockey playoffs aren’t on.  I suppose that’s another important aspect….submission is not dependent on half of the relationship.  It’s a mutual submissiveness that allows for a healthy marriage.  Love and desire to put the other before ourselves, coming from both directions, allows for balance, and points to the kind of relationship God desires to have with His bride.  A self-less, sacrificial, and hope-filled love for the other that speaks Gods’ Kingdom into a broken world unable to relate well to each other on their own.

As a husband, I pray God continues to increase what I bring to our cumulative “SQ”.  Not only in calendar planning, but in toothpaste cap securing, etc.  That I would moment by moment learn to let go of self, and increase in my ability to Love my wife, and speak God’s Love into/over/at her in private and in public…