The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Associate Pastor
Because we are still on this earth, Paul says, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Walking by faith gives us good courage because of what is to come. Nevertheless, we often whine because we want to see things with our own eyes. The Israelites wanted to see the leeks and onions again; theys wanted to see Yahweh in the “golden calf,” King Saul wanted to see Samuel in the flesh; idolaters want to see their gods, not just hear the “voice” of Yahweh (Deuteronomy 6).
Yet there is a passage that will help you “see” what God is doing, and so encourage you in the faith and give you good cheer. It’s a passage that will open your eyes to all the things that Jesus is doing in YOUR day and age. Today!
What is that passage? It’s Revelation 20, where Jesus binds Satan so he can no longer deceive the nations (20:1–3) during the millennial period as he did before, as in the days of the recently vanquished harlot of chapter 17, the old covenant unbelieving Yahweh haters who rejected his Son Jesus for the power and protection of Rome (chapter 13). Satan deceived nations to worship false gods and receive marks on their bodies and follow him to the abyss, but no longer. He’s bound as to the gospel; he can’t keep the minds of men in darkness. And so in obedience to the Great Commission, the church goes out and baptizes and teaches and makes disciples of all the nations. Even in North Korea and Saudi Arabia and China and Iran there are believers in Jesus, worshipping and praying and fulfilling the Great Commission. Think about it: all across the globe there are churches, ministry centers, gardens and villages where Christ is worshipped openly, all filled with believers who don’t murder and maim and offer child sacrifice nor molest their neighbor’s daughter or steal his livestock or burn down their houses over petty disputes. Live by faith, and open your eyes and see the difference Jesus is making!