God’s Sovereign Death Clock




Revelation 6:9-11

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 


These verses hit me like a lightening bolt this morning. God’s sovereign plan includes waiting for judgment till the full number of martyrs have died! God’s plan includes the horrific death of His own. We know this was true at the cross. But all too often we think because He died we won’t have to. We expect God’s love to make our lives easier because we are His children. But Scripture often paints a different picture. Our lives here on earth are not meant to be easier. God’s plan for His own is often harder, so that we can show how the Gospel is more important to us than our comfort.  Even the martyrs who had died recognize the injustice of being martyred,  BUT they are told to wait and trust God for His timing in bringing justice.  


I confess this contradicts my flesh in every sense of the word! I want an easy ride at all costs. But God’s Word says the life of the believer is often hard not easy. The only way we endure this is if Jesus gives us the grace to believe in Him in these hard times. As Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9).


Can we too, as difficulties come, respond with Paul, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong”? (2 Cor 12:9-10).

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