Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

It’s True! It’s ALL True!

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When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” Revelation 1:17 (NIV)

My Bible study question asked: Why did John fall down as if dead?
Oh, there are all the usual reasons:

  • Like Isaiah and Peter, John could have realized his utter insignificance and worthlessness before a pure and holy God (Isaiah 6:5, Luke 5:8)
  • Perhaps he remembered Moses’ conversation with God: ‘No man can see Me and live!’ (Exodus 33:20).

These are both plausible and possible reasons. But here’s my theory. Walk with me for a moment in the sandals of the apostle John. Perhaps these were the thoughts that ran through his mind:

They call me the disciple Jesus loves, His beloved disciple. That seems so odd, since I’m just an ordinary fisherman. But Jesus chose me, and I became a part of His inner circle. Following Jesus from village to village, along dry, dusty roads, I learned so much from Him. I believed all He said, all His teachings. I watched Him perform miracles! And yet…

I was there when they arrested Him in the garden. I watched them drag Him away. I was there when they nailed Him to the cross and I saw Him breathe His last. What now?

He’s gone…He’s gone…They’ve crucified Him. Deep in the pit of my soul, I was afraid. Scared that He was indeed dead, that I would never see Him again. But three days later, Mary Magdalene ran up to Peter and me.

“He’s gone! They’ve taken His body!”

We ran back to the tomb. It was EMPTY! My heart skipped a beat. A shiver of excitement ran through me. And relief, oh the relief that flooded my soul. Jesus was alive! The belief in my mind had moved to my heart. I believed – without even seeing His body – that some how, some way, Jesus was alive!

 “So the other disciple (John) who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw (the empty tomb) and believed.” John 20:8

But, where is He? On the cross He said something about paradise. Where is that?

A few days later, we were camped out in the upper room. Our sorrow had overwhelmed us. We were scared. We couldn’t go out, because the people hated us. Suddenly, Jesus was there, among us. He spoke with us, and ate with us. He showed us His nail scarred hands. He HAD died, and risen again! Just like He said. Seeing Him resurrected, my faith was confirmed.

After a few days, He left again, to go to His Father…our Father.

I began to spread the word of the resurrected Christ, and how He saves us from our sins. How He loved us enough to die on that cross for us, even while we are still sinners.  I told people He would come again!

I preached it, I taught it as best I could. But how was it all supposed to work? Where is heaven? How will we live with Him forever? What will our bodies be like? I had so much hope, and yet so many questions.

Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory]. 1 John 3:2 (AMP)

And now, here I am, exiled on Patmos because of my beliefs. I was in the Spirit, and I heard a voice talking to me. I looked around to see who could be here. And that’s when I saw Him!

It’s Him! It’s Jesus! I fell at His feet, like a dead man.

Oh, my Lord and my God! It’s all true. Everything. Your death, burial, and resurrection. Everything. Even this place that You’re giving me a glimpse of, this new home. Yes, I believed You! But I also had doubts about how it would work! But it’s true. Oh, my Jesus, I bow before You. You have fulfilled all my hopes and dreams. You are the Way, the Truth and the Light. I’m home now. I’m really home.

It's True

Possibly, just possibly, John was overwhelmed – not at the sight of his glorified Savior, but that it’s all true. Everything Jesus had told him. It’s ALL TRUE! John realized in that instant, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would have eternal life, he would have a glorified body, and he would live forever with Jesus. He knew without a doubt, because he DID see. John knew that his faith was not in vain and all his hopes were fulfilled.

We have faith and believe now. But on that glorious day, when we get to heaven, we will SEE without a doubt that eternal life IS the truth of the Gospel. That Jesus not only died and rose again, but that He will be living among us (Revelation 21:3).

Grace be with you,

Who Do You Represent?

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I didn’t want to write this post. By writing and publishing this you may assume Soaked and Sprouting is a political blog. It is not. But so often lately, politics can lead to prayer.

During the state of the union address, I was convicted that I needed to pray for certain people in our government. Those whose views are very different from mine. More so, since I am a visual person, the Lord “suggested” that I print a picture of them, those people who didn’t applaud the pro-life legislation suggestion of President Trump, and tape it in my prayer journal. I need to look into the faces of the people I am to pray for. 

Being totally transparent here, my first thought was “YUK!” I don’t want to look at those people while I’m praying for them. But I did it. I found a picture of the women in white, and taped it in my journal.

 

This is so very hard for me. My first thought when I see them is “They DO NOT represent me and my views!” But God. He is so very faithful to show me His ways, if I will only humble myself to listen.

“Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the LORD.” Exodus 28:12 NLT

Similar to the picture I taped in my prayer journal, Aaron had stones on his priestly garments to remind him that he represents the people before the Lord. 

Hmmmm. Did you see what I saw? Aaron represents the people whenever he goes before the Lord.

Even though those gals in white (and many other politicians and regular people) don’t represent me or my beliefs, I represent them when I pray for them. 

Oswald Chambers says “Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God?” (Chambers, O. (1986). My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the year)

The people we are praying for, the leaders of our country, may not represent us or our values or what we stand for. But we certainly represent them to God and must bring them before Him in prayer. Whenever we do this, we implore the Lord on their behalf, praying that His will be done in their lives. Pray that He will draw them to Himself and save them for His purposes.  Pray for them to see today’s issues through the filter of God’s truth and His Ways and His love. Pray for hearts to be changed. But most of all, PRAY. God commands it.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB

Go ahead. Print a picture of those people – whomever they may be to you. Print it. Pray over it. For them. For you. And for our country. Represent them before God. 

Grace be with You,