Sometimes when I write a post it does not always end up where I started. At first, I thought this post was going to be about me revisiting the Book of Revelation. And you will see by the end of the blog that I do discuss Revelation. But this post is really about the importance of time in a relationship, especially in our relationship with God. This is a very simple post as I want to make two basic points. First, to develop a personal relationship with someone, you generally need to spend regular time with that person. And second, when spending time with the person, the more intentional you are about developing the relationship, the more the relationship will mature. I understand that these are very basic ideas, but I often wonder how much thought we put into the healthy development of our relationships. That being said, these basic statements are also true when discussing our relationship with God.
Hopefully, when thinking about developing an intimate relationship with our Savior, we are intentional about what would be meaningful in developing that relationship. Unfortunately, many times how we develop relationships is influenced by the negative influences of culture or our upbringing, and therefore what we practice in our relationship with God isn’t always the most effective in developing an intimate relationship with Him. In this post I will start with the most basic element, and that is time. We need to spend time with God for that relationship to develop. And yes, for that relationship to develop into maturity, the time spent should go beyond a quick devotional or prayer. However, for some, that is a start. So, let’s start with time.
Personally, I find it easier to spend time in the morning communing with God, and that time is very important to me. But unfortunately, by the end of the day, the daily tasks and distractions supplant my focus on the Creator. However, in the evening, I find that reading scripture that illustrates the Glory of God is an important aspect of helping me to refocus my mind, and in helping me to meditate on the holiness of God as I end the day. This reading and meditation is important because it helps to take the distractions of the day and to put them into perspective, and I know that “the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:14, NIV).
And during this evening time, I even find it helpful to have specific scripture available to meditate on at the end of the day, and therefore I sometimes use the following verses from Revelation to provide peace and comfort as I prepare myself for rest. My focus on Revelation is in recognition that “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (Revelation 1:3, NIV). And on a side note, if you noticed, time is an important aspect of Revelation in many ways. Now those who know me understand that I tend to be overly ambitious in what I do or propose. So do not be intimidated, as the scripture can be broken down and read in parts over several evenings. I hope that you take time to meditate on these words and that you find the following verses helpful in your exploration of God or your daily walk:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’ “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 1:7-8, 4:11, 5:13).
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7:10, 16-17).
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:15-18)
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 12:10-12, 14:6-7).
“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments” (Revelation 15:3-4, 16:5-7).
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God” (Revelation 19:1-2, 4-9).
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children (Revelation 21:1-7).
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. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:3-6, 12-13).