December 13, 2010
Revelation 9
Pastor Michelle Hoverson
While reading Revelation 9, one can’t help but wonder, “why would God allow such immense depression, distress, defeat, despair and death to come upon people throughout the earth?”
It’s hard to comprehend the agony that will be experienced when Satan, the fallen star, is allowed to release hordes of demons on earth (verses 1-6). The destruction won’t stop. Four angels will then be released by God to kill a third of mankind (verses 13-16). All the pictures of Nazi death camps, people who perished in the Christmas Tsunami and people who died in the Haitian earthquake - added together - won’t compare with the destruction of life resulting from the blast of the sixth trumpet! Why would God allow such immense destruction and death?
I don’t have the definitive answer, but I can pose another question that may give us some insight: have you ever had a close brush with death? Perhaps you’ve been in an accident, or realized you just missed being hit by a car. Maybe you’ve been so ill that death seemed near. This past Thanksgiving, my next-door neighbor died suddenly in his sleep. He appeared healthy and in the prime of life, so I was shocked to hear about his passing. Freshly confronted with the fragility of my own mortality, my priorities readjusted a bit. My perspective of life took on a new seriousness. I became reflective as to how I’m living for the Lord and had a renewed sense of wanting my life to count. My heart’s desire to be right with God intensified.
When humans are confronted with death in such a massive way as John’s vision, how do they respond? You’d think everyone would repent of sin and seek relationship with the Lord but, in verses 20 and 21, it’s clear that they don’t. Instead of turning to God, they continue in their own rebellion.
When facing difficult times and distressing situations, we are given the same choice as to how to respond…either draw closer to the Lord and ask, “what would you have me learn in the midst of this?” or turn away from God and become even more self-focused and self-reliant.
Which reaction do you think the Lord would want you to choose?
When asked to describe her favorite meal, Pastor Michelle identified (along with her husband), “French or Italian food, a view from a mountaintop and Andre Bocelli as the background music.”
