Saturday 31 December

Nehemiah 13:1-31

The pulling out of hair and the beating I am not so sure about.  But the rest of it seems bang on.  These Old Testament readings for the year end in an interesting place with the leaders of the community actively holding the others to a certain standard of holiness.  And I don’t think anything in the New Testament ever negates this requirement.  As ambassadors of God and as reverential worshippers of the Lord it is only appropriate for us to act and speak and make decisions in a way that pleases Jesus.  It should only be expected of us that we would seek to do all we can with all we can to try to help everyone we can to honour God as much as they can.  The Old Testament has provided us with example after example of people who have manifestly failed to do this.  Solomon is only one name of many that could be cited as a warning.  And it only makes sense for us to heed these warnings, to learn from other’s mistakes and to equip ourselves with all biblical and godly wisdom.  For if we do this, and if we manage to achieve a higher level of purity for ourselves and for those around us then the Lord will remember us and He will show us mercy according to His great love.  Not because we will have earned it (we never could!) but because He will see our efforts and be pleased with them.  He will  be pleased that his work in us is bearing rich fruit.

Revelation 22:1-21

The Fall is overcome.  The river of life raises The City and its inhabitants way up above even the lofty heights of Eden.  For now there is a throne.  Now there is no night.  And they will reign for ever and ever without a pesky snake coming and wrecking it all up.  So unspeakably brilliant is this vision, so nostril-flaringly outstanding is this sight that John - even John who saw the transfigured Jesus and who ate the broiled fish with the risen Christ - even John can’t help himself but fling his whole being down onto the dust and physically express his utter unworthiness to be around it.  I can’t remember the last time I felt such a depth of astonishment and conviction.  I end this journey with a similar sense of trepidation to that with which I started it, except now I feel more aware of the sheer inadequacy of my knowledge, the meagre extent of my faith.  This Jesus who I love, this Jesus who in my worst moment I feel I fully know - this Jesus is the same one who gave this vision to John.  This Jesus is the same one who is called the Root, the Offspring of David and the Bright Morning Star.  This Jesus has shown me Himself - he really, truly has - and so far all I’ve been able to look at is the nail of his little toe.  What I’ve seen has been amazing.  What I’ve seen nearly brings me to tears right now in this seat and yet it is just a whiff.  It is just a tiny fragment of gold compared to all of Fort Knox.  But there will be a day when I see it all.  I pray I will keep seeing more and more until that day comes.  But there will be a day when Jesus will come, where Jesus will come and claim his own and will reward for what’s been done.  And then I will see him as he is.  Then his whole phenomenal, beyond-ordinary, beyond-temporary, beyond-constraint body will be unveiled before me.  And I will fall face down and I will eat the dust.  I can’t wait for that day.  Please come, Lord Jesus.

Psalm 150:1-6

What a way to finish; “let everything that has breath praise the Lord”.