and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. in their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 corinthians 4:3-4]

 

have you every gotten so frustrated that someone is not understanding the love of God? not awed by his greatness? not fearful of his holy wrath? maybe you’ve tried to explain the good news of the forgiveness of Christ, and they don’t even see that they need it. maybe you’ve tried to explain that we can have a right relationship with the almighty Creator, and they think they already have it because they’re not that bad. we labor. we struggle. we pray. but we see no fruit. so we despair.

this passage is such a burden lifted. we can be encouraged and find rekindled strength to take God’s beautiful message of hope to the lost. in this passage we see that for those whose name is not found in the Lamb’s book of life, that beautiful message of hope will be veiled. they seek after glory found in the things of this earth, and they can’t see the brightness of the glory of Christ. our calling and our mission is not to lift this veil. we have absolutely no power to do so. our calling is to show the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ to all. ALL. if God will increase our trust in his power, and decrease our reliance on our own ability, and remove our critical spirit, our desire to pick and choose who is worthy to see this light, then we can be faithful to take the gospel boldly, present it with love, and put it in its true glorious light. God is faithful. he will call sinners. so release this burden from yourself, and pray for God to lift the veil!

 

after this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “amen! blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! amen.” [revelation 7:9-12]

 

salvation belongs to our God- thank you Lord, for your sovereignty. thank you for being the Author and Perfecter of our faith. help me to trust you in this ministry. your ministry.

 

salvation is not partial- thank you, Lord, for your love for all people. strip me of my own partiality, and make me a child after your own heart, full of love and compassion.

 

salvation reveals God’s glory- thank you, Lord, for graciously showing your glory to your people. thank you for graciously allowing me to be used in this mission. through your ambassadors, may blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be yours forever!

 

~arwen eastman