Reading: Revelation 1:9-20

There’s an old folktale from Mali that indicates a hat salesman had his entire inventory of hats stolen by monkeys while he was napping under a tree. Upon waking, he gestures and screams at the monkeys, only to have them imitate his gesturing and screaming. Finally, he throws his own hat to the ground in frustration, and the monkeys do the same—hence the phrase, “Monkey see, monkey do.”

I would like to submit to you that God outlines a similar sequence in our path for finding life to the full. We are called to hear, see, do.

You’ll notice it in the text. Verse 10. John first hears the sound of Jesus. However. This is not the sound that John remembers hearing. Keep in mind, John is “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This was his best friend, and clearly not what John was used to. He’s used to the voice of Jesus the Galilean. Jesus the helpful Rabbi. What he gets is the sound of a trumpet and roaring waters. And as the kids like to say, “This water-trumpet got him shook.”

So. In my years as a pastor, I’ve often heard people say, “When I get to heaven, I’m gonna have some questions for that Jesus, fella.” Um. No. You’re gonna do well not to pee your pants. Ok? Now. Look. God is good. I think in time He’ll make sense of things for you…but to have the audacity to think you can just walk up and be like, “Now listen here, Geebus…” Mmm. Probably not.

Secondly. Verse 12. John turns to see Jesus. Again. The Jesus he’d seen hundreds of times before. Yet none of this was anything that John had ever seen. I find that so compelling. I mean. John saw Jesus transfigured on a Mountain with Moses and Elijah. Additionally he saw the resurrected Jesus ascend into heaven. Yet he’s never seen Jesus like this. That’s because it’s the Jesus of judgment.

Finally. Verse 19: John does what He’s told. Which. Aren’t you glad that John obeyed the commission that Jesus gave him? To write the book of Revelation. Like. What if he said, “How bout you get me out of prison first?” What if he said, “I’m 90 years old, Jesus! You better get somebody younger. I’ve done my time.”

Here’s what I’m trying to help you understand: just like John had a calling on His life, God has a calling for your life too. It’s the only place fullness can be found. So. There’s a unique job God has for you, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. Furthermore, let me suggest that the way to get there is to follow the same outline I just gave to you: to hear. to see. to do.

With Gratitude,

pLJ