TruthTrek through Cairnsmore of Carsphairn 

TruthTrek through Cairnsmore of Carsphairn 

The other side of the throne of God is seen in Revelation chapter 6. We must chose how it is we want to know and experience God. As the righteous ruler? As the sacrifice for our sin? As one who understands and sympathises as man? As one who is able and willing to lift us up to the heights of Glory? Would we wish to reject God in all of His Grace and Glory and in His place chose tyranny and dictatorship? Chose slaughter and suffering? Chose the demonic that will drag us to the depths of hell? In reality every day is a decision and those decisions change our destiny. Let us be wise in the choice that we make. "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Let us choose Christ and choose life.

Dr J Stewart Gillespie @ graceinchrist.org

When elders announce in heaven that the book of Revelation chapter 5 is to be opened by the Lion of Judah, John turns to look, but instead of a Lion he sees a Lamb. God achieves the greatest of victories by the most unconventional of means. It was not King Saul who defeated Goliath but rather David the Shepherd boy, it was not armies that defended Israel in the days of Haman's genocidal plan but rather Esther the slave queen, it was not a revolution nor superior armaments that secured the release of Israel from Egypt but the blood of a lamb. God does things differently because God sees the universe differently. Underpinning the universe is an order far different from what we might suspect. Greatest in God's eyes is not determined by popularity, nor by influence, nor by wealth, status nor title. In the eyes of God personal character, faithfulness and Christ likeness are of a far higher order of magnitude in the assessment of greatness. These values underpin the very fabric of His creation. To found ourselves upon them and to move in harmony with faith, love, hope, truth and righteousness is to guarantee ultimate success. These very principles; the greatness of love and meekness underpin God's great plan of salvation; by the lamb, in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for sinners, despised, hated and rejected. It is the lamb we view here in Revelation chapter 5 as the one able to open the book; a book which changes destinies and determines the passing of an old fallen world and the rising again of a new eternal city. 

Yours by Grace in Christ 

J Stewart Gillespie

What is going on in the world?

Why does everything seem so out of control?

Can God be in control over so much apparent chaos? 

Can God even exist when the innocent suffer and natural disasters strike that seem to be the fault of no one?

Where do we start to find God? 

In Revelation chapter 5, before John unfolds the story of tragedy after turmoil, after natural disaster John brings us to the book in the hand of God. We begin with the certainties of the Divine plan and purpose before we grapple with the apparent chaos of a world thrown head long into destruction. It is when we begin with the certainties of the Bible that we are drawn to the inescapable conclusion that there is both a God and a plan for this world. It is within the pages of this ancient book that century after century God reveals Himself to prophets, priests and kings and finally in history in His Son Jesus Christ. Down through the pages of ancient prophecy we can trace the anticipation of the coming Messiah for generations prior to His advent. Micah tells us the place of His birth; "Bethlehem"; Isaiah speaks of the means of His birth; "a virgin will conceive and bring forth a Son"; David speaks of His crucifixion and death in Psalm 22; His resurrection in Psalm 22 and Isaiah will lay out God's plan of salvation in Isaiah 53; by personal, individual faith in God's Son , who is the lamb of God led to the slaughter as a sacrifice for sin; my sin and yours. 

Yours by Grace in Christ 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Revelation chapter 5 is the detonator for global catastrophe and judgment with all of the war, suffering, sorrow and pain that involves. Such an outpouring if God's wrath could only happen when humanity is in active rebellion against their creator. To see all of the pain and sorrow merely as a passive consequence of human disobedience is to miss the bigger picture and deeper mystery of the book of Revelation. God is bigger than we imagine and more in control than we could ever anticipate. Whilst God pours out His judgement upon a world that rejects Him, that crucified His Son and persecuted His people, in all of that sorrow and suffering God is working out His own purpose. His goal is an end to the corruption and mess of a fallen world and the ushering in of a new heaven and new earth. Grief is but the stepping stone to Glory. In the storm there is a peace to be found in the Christ who walks on the waves, at the grave there is a glory to be seen in the hope of resurrection through the grief of the present moment. Look for the hand of God, the purpose of the problem and the plan of an all powerful and sovereign God in every experience of life. 

Yours by Grace in Christ 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

It is strange that there is so little said in the bible concerning this great subject of heaven. It would appear after all to be of great concern to many. What is heaven like? How do I get to heaven? Are my loved ones in heaven? Is heaven real? Amongst the few passages of the bible which speak of heaven explicitly is Revelation chapter 4. There is much in this chapter that is not new. We already knew that heaven has a door, only one, that door is Jesus Christ (John chp 10 vs 9). We have perhaps already heard the voice that calls us into heaven? "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me" (john 10:27). Heaven is also the place of separation, that is a holy separation between the perfection of heaven and sinfulness of man's world. A holiness and purity symbolised by the crystal sea of Revelation chapter 4. 

In all of this description of heaven there is also a sense of tragedy. This is the secret tragedy of heaven. Symbolically before the throne of heaven are four living creatures (beasts in the some translations). These angelic beings symbolise the character of God. God is lion like, sovereign, powerful and in control. He is Lord and King, ordering and ordaining time and human history for His own purposes. He is also the one in overall control of our own personal lives and experiences. Those coincidences were anything but coincidences! Those disappointments were Divine appointments! Those unexpected encounters and events may have been unexpected to you but not to God! He is moving over time and behind the scenes of time. 

God is also calf like, the sacrificial animal, providing a way into His perfect heaven for imperfect men and women, that by means of sacrifice, shed blood and the offering of His Son Jesus Christ at Calvary.

God has the face of a man, incarnate as Jesus, revealing the invisible God we could not know nor encounter but by the Lord Jesus drawing close in time. 

Here then is the great secret tragedy of heaven. If we fail to gain entry to God's dwelling, the tragedy lies in this that all of my life He has been seeking for me, seeking to save, searching and calling for the lost sheep, lost coin and prodigal son. If I am lost it is because and refused to allow Him to find me. He has been calling and moving and revealing all of my life. 

Let us not miss Him; "I am come to seek and to save that which was lost".

The Truth Trek 

A gospel ministry from 

Grace in Christ 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The last word of a prayer, of a book, of the Bible itself maybe Amen, but of our lives there is a word after the last. Mediocrity, compromise and rank materialism is met head on with the stark reality that at the end of life and service our eyes close not simply with an 'Amen' but are brought to a conclusion BY THE AMEN. He utters the final word of assessment on our life now complete. He knows our successes, He witnessed our failures, He gave us the opportunities, now He speaks. We best listen now to His command and call before our lives move from service to assessment, from activity to accountability. Revelation chapter 3 verse 14.