So
what is the proper way to respond to a revelation from God? One
should respond with holy reverence and submission. The prophet Isaiah
comes to mind. In Isaiah 6, he saw the Lord sitting on His throne,
high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. He responded in
holy reverence by falling on his face in total submission, lying
prostrate before the Lord and crying out, woe is me for I am undone.
Revelation puts one in awe of how miraculous God is but brings the
understanding that God wholly embraces the repentant. Isaiah came
face to face with the grace of Almighty God.
In
Luke 2, how did the messenger from God respond to the fear of the
shepherds? Luke2:10, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,” God's revelation
brought good tidings personally and “which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye
shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men.” These were glad tidings. The
promise was not only to the shepherds but to ALL people.
We
must respond to God's revelation with the appropriate action. The
shepherds did just that. “And it came to pass, as the angels were
gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us,” Luke 2:15. God
will validate and confirm His message. But we must be willing to
pursue after the Truth. More often than not, God's revelation comes
in steps, short messages, small pieces. In my experience, it has been
much like a puzzle. Piece by piece you find its place until you can
see the complete picture.
The
shepherds pursued after the revelation the angels delivered. “And
they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying
in a manger,” Luke 2:16. They were able to observe confirmation of
the angels' announcement. When God confirms his Truth, there is
always an expected result. Luke 2:17, “And when they had seen it,
they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this
child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which
were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things,
and pondered them in her heart.” The revelation was a personal
experience for the shepherds in so much that the encounter compelled
them to seek the truth of the revelation. When God confirmed the
truth of the revelation the expected result was that they would share
with others the wonder of this event. Their experience compelled them
to tell others about what they had seen. The greater circle or larger
group that heard the message “wondered at those things which were
told them.” The Bible doesn't elaborate on the effect this
wonderful happening had upon the general public. But we can conclude
with certainty that those who pursued the truth experienced
revelation. “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in
her heart.” I am convinced that “wondering” takes place in the
mind but “pondering” takes place in the heart. The wonder of the
many was a transient emotion; this recollecting and brooding of Mary
was an abiding habit. Mary had experienced revelation before! She was
no stranger to the visitation of the heavenly and received the Divine
herald in her heart. Revelation is a heart thing! (To be continued).
The Message: A Critical Review Of End Time Events, p 16-17, available
at Amazon.com.
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