Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

A THIRD

March 10, 2011

 No one wants to hear bad news, warnings, or maybe even threats. Yet, there is hope when we are told that there are limits to the bad news.

The first angel sounded his trumpet and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down in the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
                                                  - Revelation 8:7 TNIV

John's vision continues with the opening of the seventh seal, which unleashes awful horror, suffering and depredation on earth. This is something the early church endured in part as they first heard these words. But note the limits. If you read all of the 8th chapter and others like it, you read repeating words that sovereignty reigns as a clarion of hope. "A third," "a third..." as in, some, but not everything. It will be bad, but only a third, only a portion. God still is in charge.

In Christ, as the people of God, terrible things are unleashed in our world. Sometimes we are mere witnesses, other times we’re the victims. But keep in mind, "a third," not all, but only a third. The Creator-Redeemer God in Revelation 4 & 5 still reigns over all!

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson