3/24/09

The brightness of a dark night

When there is a full moon, the night takes on a daytime quality. Yet, there is an surrealistic quality about it, and you know that no matter how bright it is that something is not quite right. But, at the same time the night can be very beautiful indeed as this picture illustrates. Over the years, I have worked all three shifts and after awhile each one becomes "normal". Not normal in the usual sense, but rather you adjust to new hours. So, day can become night and the reverse can also be true. In the future its very possible that we may live through dark and trying times; perhaps even the tribulation, so this passage from the book of Revelation seemed to be appropriate.
Rev 7:13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?"
Rev 7:14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.
Rev 7:17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." ESV
Think about the changes that are happening in the USA and how they relate to our personal freedoms. It seems to me that this country is becoming more socialistic with each passing month and that the world is heading towards a one government authority. If and when this happens I think we will be in the tribulation and then this Revelation passage may actually apply specifically to US. The good news is that even though we may have to go through a long night of persecution, eventually night and day will become meaningless and "God will wipe away every tear" from OUR eyes. So, even the darkest nights will become bright and oh, so beautiful, because God will be near. Now, that is even more wonderful than any full moon could ever be!