In the Harry Potter series of movies, Harry has a cousin who is an oaf. His parents dote on him, trying to buy his love with unearned praises and undeserved gifts. At one celebration, the boy counts his gifts, uncaring what they are, only concerned with the quantity of packages.
He screams out his anger: Did he get one more than last time?
Of course, this character is little more than a caricature of the worst a teenage boy can be, but he illustrates today’s message especially well. When we are overly blessed, we can grow numb to the good things in life that come our way.
In contrast, Harry, owning nothing and forced to live under the stairs, gets a simple letter, and he is ecstatic. This one, small item is a gift to him better than gold. When it is taken away, he is devastated.
Harry rejoices when he is finally offered escape from his locked-up lifestyle. His parents are dead. He feels unloved. The possibility of attending boarding school is the open door of freedom to this boy who has known few good things in his short lifetime.
As sinners in this world, we are the same. Jesus said it like this in Luke 7:47:
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
It is the person who starts out with nothing that is grateful for every little blessing that comes his or her way. When we hear radical rejoicing going on, we can be assured that we are hearing the sounds of a radically changed life.
Jacob, in Genesis 28:20-22, made a vow, saying:
“If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
God proved himself to Jacob, and Jacob lived up to his promises. His family line became a great nation, one that still stands as God’s chosen people, even in the face of continual border conflicts and international pressure.
Look at what Revelation 21:4 tells us:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Talk about a good reason for radical rejoicing! No matter what bad things have come our way in this lifetime, it will all be gone. God will wipe every pain away.
We will all stand and cheer when we see the events of that final day come to pass. Will we paint our faces in vibrant colors and wear outrageous clothes as we cheer the coming presence of the great King? Who knows, but it wouldn’t be a crazy idea, not when we read the following:
Revelation 19:9 decries:
“And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’ ”
Revelation 5:13 builds up our expectations:
“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ ”
We will hear the true words of God as we sing our praises forever without end!
How radical is that!
Let’s paint our faces with Jesus and get ready to jump and cheer. There’s a celebration coming our way!
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