Urgent Repetition
Pastor Ben Kirkman
Growing up on a farm, my childhood was filled with many urgently repeated warnings. When I failed to consider those warnings, I often found myself in dangerous situations. I seemingly enjoyed finding out the consequences of unheeded warnings. (I am honestly not sure how I survived my childhood.) It was a slight challenge to decide which story of unheeded warning to share with you for this devotion; there are just too many from which to choose.
Our farm had around three acres of yard to mow. Every summer I begged my dad for the opportunity to mow the grass. Finally, after years of begging, when I was around eight years old he finally decided it was time to teach me to drive our mower. We started in the barnyard, a big, wide-open chunk of grass. The only hazard was a large drainage ditch on the north edge of the yard (by a large ditch, I mean it also doubled as our sledding hill in the winter). My dad mowed several passes in front of the ditch to give me room to safely turn and mow back in the other direction. He sat me on the tractor and stood behind me on the hitch. He walked me through all of the important how-tos and what-not-to-dos of operating our antique mower. I remember thinking, “I’ve got it, I’ve got it, just let me take my foot off the clutch and go.” Before I started he warned me, “Start your turn when your front tires cross the grass I have already mowed in front of the ditch. I have given you plenty of room to turn.” With that warning out of the way, we were off. I was driving. I was mowing! My dad was standing right behind me encouraging and reminding me of the instructions he had just given. As we got close to the mark where I was to turn, he started saying, “Get ready to turn.” As the turning point came and went he got a little more animated: “Turn, turn, turn! Push the clutch! Push the brake!” I completely froze. As my front tires headed down the ditch, I held on tightly to the steering wheel. In self-preservation, my dad jumped off the back and watched as I drove the tractor straight down the ditch and into the opposite bank. I was fine (I did put my mowing career on pause for another summer), the tractor would eventually be fine once recovered and repaired, but it could have ended very badly. I had a clear, urgent warning that I failed to observe!
As John is wrapping up Revelation, we see him urgently repeat a phrase from Jesus three times. In Revelation 22:7, 12, and 20, we read, “I am coming soon.” At this point in our study, we have already seen a glimpse into the Apocalypse, the judgments, and the glorious return and reign of Jesus. We have been made aware of what is coming. It is like John throws out this final plea as he wraps up this letter. “Jesus is returning, these events will happen, I am throwing out this final, urgent warning. Jesus is coming soon, do you believe in Him? Do you know Him? Are you ready for His return? Do not miss the urgent repetition. Jesus is coming soon!”
The Bible teaches that God is merciful and gracious, while His character is also urgently declared to be holy and righteous! The Bible also repeatedly warns that because of our sin we desperately need the atoning work of a Savior. Jesus is that glorious Savior. Do you know Him? The Bible closes with the urgent repetition that Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready for His return and to one day stand before Him?
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:20-21
Pastor Ben Kirkman
Growing up on a farm, my childhood was filled with many urgently repeated warnings. When I failed to consider those warnings, I often found myself in dangerous situations. I seemingly enjoyed finding out the consequences of unheeded warnings. (I am honestly not sure how I survived my childhood.) It was a slight challenge to decide which story of unheeded warning to share with you for this devotion; there are just too many from which to choose.
Our farm had around three acres of yard to mow. Every summer I begged my dad for the opportunity to mow the grass. Finally, after years of begging, when I was around eight years old he finally decided it was time to teach me to drive our mower. We started in the barnyard, a big, wide-open chunk of grass. The only hazard was a large drainage ditch on the north edge of the yard (by a large ditch, I mean it also doubled as our sledding hill in the winter). My dad mowed several passes in front of the ditch to give me room to safely turn and mow back in the other direction. He sat me on the tractor and stood behind me on the hitch. He walked me through all of the important how-tos and what-not-to-dos of operating our antique mower. I remember thinking, “I’ve got it, I’ve got it, just let me take my foot off the clutch and go.” Before I started he warned me, “Start your turn when your front tires cross the grass I have already mowed in front of the ditch. I have given you plenty of room to turn.” With that warning out of the way, we were off. I was driving. I was mowing! My dad was standing right behind me encouraging and reminding me of the instructions he had just given. As we got close to the mark where I was to turn, he started saying, “Get ready to turn.” As the turning point came and went he got a little more animated: “Turn, turn, turn! Push the clutch! Push the brake!” I completely froze. As my front tires headed down the ditch, I held on tightly to the steering wheel. In self-preservation, my dad jumped off the back and watched as I drove the tractor straight down the ditch and into the opposite bank. I was fine (I did put my mowing career on pause for another summer), the tractor would eventually be fine once recovered and repaired, but it could have ended very badly. I had a clear, urgent warning that I failed to observe!
As John is wrapping up Revelation, we see him urgently repeat a phrase from Jesus three times. In Revelation 22:7, 12, and 20, we read, “I am coming soon.” At this point in our study, we have already seen a glimpse into the Apocalypse, the judgments, and the glorious return and reign of Jesus. We have been made aware of what is coming. It is like John throws out this final plea as he wraps up this letter. “Jesus is returning, these events will happen, I am throwing out this final, urgent warning. Jesus is coming soon, do you believe in Him? Do you know Him? Are you ready for His return? Do not miss the urgent repetition. Jesus is coming soon!”
The Bible teaches that God is merciful and gracious, while His character is also urgently declared to be holy and righteous! The Bible also repeatedly warns that because of our sin we desperately need the atoning work of a Savior. Jesus is that glorious Savior. Do you know Him? The Bible closes with the urgent repetition that Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready for His return and to one day stand before Him?
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” Revelation 22:20-21
Posted in Revelation
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Reach • Devotion 1Reach • Devotion 2Reach • Devotion 3Reach • Devotion 4Reach • Devotion 5Reach • Devotion 6Gather • Devotion 1Gather • Devotion 2Gather • Devotion 3Gather • Devotion 4Gather • Devotion 5Gather • Devotion 6Grow • Devotion 1Grow • Devotion 2Grow • Devotion 3Grow • Devotion 4Grow • Devotion 5Grow • Devotion 6Giving • Devotion 1Giving • Devotion 2Giving • Devotion 3Giving • Devotion 4Giving • Devotion 5Giving • Devotion 6Galatians 1Galatians 2
February
Galatians 3Galatians 4Galatians 5Galatians 6God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 1God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 2God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 3God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 4God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 5God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 6Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 1Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 2Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 3Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 4Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 5Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 6Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 1Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 2Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 3Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 4Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 5Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 6Delights • Devotion 1Delights • Devotion 2
March
Delights • Devotion 3Delights • Devotion 4Delights • Devotion 5Delights • Devotion 6Final Class • Devotion 1Final Class • Devotion 2Final Class • Devotion 3Final Class • Devotion 4Final Class • Devotion 5Final Class • Devotion 6A Place for You • Devotion 1A Place for You • Devotion 2A Place for You • Devotion 3A Place for You • Devotion 4A Place for You • Devotion 5A Place for You • Devotion 6The Helper • Devotion 1The Helper • Devotion 2The Helper • Devotion 3The Helper • Devotion 4The Helper • Devotion 5The Helper • Devotion 6True Vine • Devotion 1True Vine • Devotion 2True Vine • Devotion 3True Vine • Devotion 4True Vine • Devotion 5
April
True Vine • Devotion 6The World • Devotion 1The World • Devotion 2The World • Devotion 3The World • Devotion 4The World • Devotion 5The World • Devotion 6Peace • Devotion 1Peace • Devotion 2Peace • Devotion 3Peace • Devotion 4Peace • Devotion 5Peace • Devotion 6Focus on Jesus • Devotion 1Focus on Jesus • Devotion 2Focus on Jesus • Devotion 3Focus on Jesus • Devotion 4Focus on Jesus • Devotion 5Focus on Jesus • Devotion 6The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 1The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 2The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 3The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 4
Categories
Tags
no tags