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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Fruit of the Spirit, continued
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (Revelation 22:3—NIV)
In the last two chapters of the Book of Revelation the emphasis is on the Lamb. The new Jerusalem is the Throne of God and of the Lamb.
Why is this? The answer has to do with the Nature of God. God loves meekness, gentleness, peaceableness. God is well able to act violently, destroying savagely. Whoever does not understand this does not understand the multifaceted Personality of God.
God created the Siberian tiger as well as the dove; the shark as well as the butterfly.
But God much prefers meekness, gentleness, quietness, love, joy, peace. Whenever God acts with violence it is because there is no other way to bring about love, joy, and peace. Therefore in the new heaven and earth reign of Christ, the Lord is referred to as the Lamb.
Gentleness is fruit that is borne from the Spirit of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . gentleness . . . . (Galatians 5:22,23—NIV)
Our adamic nature is prone to impatience, violence, strife, a willingness to manipulate and force people and circumstances until we achieve our ends. This sort of behavior is prevalent in Christian work because Adam is trying to build the Kingdom of God according to his own understanding.
We are married to the Lamb by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. When the slain Lamb appears in the heavens above, then those who live by His body and blood will be caught up to be united with Him so He may be whole once again.
I think the first resurrection from the dead will be more individualized than we realize. This is the occasion when the Lamb is able to fulfill His promise to those bloodied warriors who have cast aside all to follow Him.
Perhaps it will not be a case of "everyone come up here." Maybe it will be "Hans, Isabella, Mahomet, Einar, Asuncion, Konstantino, Ikuma," one at a time. Why not? Time is no consideration in the Kingdom. Why not make a special event of calling forth each faithful disciple whom the Lord loves so deeply?
Love will call to love. Fire will call to fire. All-powerful Gentleness will call to gentleness.
My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." (Song of Solomon 2:10-12—NIV)
No, the Lord did not speak to Elijah in the great and powerful wind or the earthquake or the fire. After the commotion came the gentle whisper.
We of today, if we would please the Lord and hear from Him, must be ready to turn aside from the loud, flashy, strident, arrogant, "in your face," forcing of the Gospel on people, and return to the way of the Lamb. The meek shall inherit the earth. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The battle is not ours but God's.
To be continued.