Friday, May 31, 2024
The Prayer to End All Prayers – Revelation 22:20 Submitted by Kay Crumley
I was referred to “25 Powerful Prayers of the Bible” by Kevin Halloran and have been using those as scriptures for starting points in writing the recent devotionals. I have come to the end of that list. The final scripture reference is in Revelation. This was one I found challenging to ‘flesh out’ for a devotional. However, I was given two other references this morning that I believe God has provided as ideas to expand on this passage.
Revelation 22:20 is at the end of the book of Revelation. He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!
The emphasis in the final prayer by Halloran is on the fact that we are ready for the Jesus to return. We live in a world full of pain and sorrow. Many may feel there is so much evil in the world that we can no longer endure it. We often cry for an end to injustice, trafficking, racism, sin, and all evil. That will not end while we live in a fallen world. As a result, we may join John in begging Jesus, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’
There are two truths we can learn from Revelation. Jesus is coming soon, and life with Him in God’s eternal Kingdom will be our future.
Revelation 21:3-4 describes what the new heaven and earth will be like.
3Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will no longer exist;
grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,
because the previous things have passed away.
We will live with Him just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden. He will be with us. He will comfort us; all pain and sorrow will be gone. Can you just imagine the hand of God wiping away your tears? If so, isn’t that enough to cause us to long for and shout with John ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’?
However, the truth is that our timing is not His. No one knows when Jesus will return, Matthew 24:36. Jesus will return as promised but we may never see that return. What are we to do in the meantime? Trust His promises, believe the gospel, and share with others the truth of Jesus Christ. We are given the command to ‘go and tell’ about who Jesus is and what He can do for this lost and dying world, Matthew 28:19-20.
John, the author of Revelation, reminds us in the Book of John how we are equipped to follow the commands of Jesus. John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. The Spirit of truth is the Holy Spirit. We who have repented of our sins, believed the gospel, and followed Jesus have the Holy Spirit living in us. He is who will guide our words and deeds if we are listening to Him. He is our teacher. He is who empowers us to follow Jesus in our day to day lives. Those who long for the day when we will be in the presence of God and have all our pain and grief erased must spend time with Him daily while here on earth.
How does this all fit together? Revelation tells us that the followers of Jesus will spend eternity in His presence worshipping Him. There will be no needs that aren’t met. There will be no sorrow or tears in the majestic presence of God. But, before we can experience that great day, we must follow Jesus while here on earth. That is something that can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can’t earn our salvation by any other name but that of Jesus. Followers of Jesus are being led to all truth, have an intercessor, and the peace that only can come from knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Then, we can confidently shout ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ knowing we will be in Glory with Him.
