Summary
Life is an adventure filled with chaos and pain.
We all wonder what does it mean? What does God mean? Is He trustworthy? Depending on the answer, we’ll “dive in” or quit.
John and the seven churches must’ve been tempted to quit.
But Jesus says, “Come up here. I have something to show you.”
Through an open door, John is “out-carnated” and sees the throne.
In the strong right hand of God, there is a scroll sealed with seven seals.
It is all of space and time; it is the Cosmos.
John weeps, for no one is found worthy to open the scroll.
John weeps, for he sees creation without meaning; He sees chaos and pain with no purpose.
John weeps, as Mary wept standing outside the tomb of her Lord.
John is staring into the void—what we loosely call “Hell.”
The Cosmos is a scroll and your life is a scroll.
I am unable, and unworthy, to open your scroll and give it meaning.
John hears, “Weep no more for the Lion has conquered and is worthy to open the scroll.”
John looks and sees a Lamb standing as if it had been slain.
He is able, for through Him the scroll was created.
He is worthy because He bleeds for John and He bleeds for you, and every moment of your space and time.
Just as He turned the greatest evil into the greatest good . . .
Just as we took the fruit of knowledge and He gave the Life of Love . . .
So He will transform all chaos and pain into glory.
Jesus did not just redeem one moment of your life, but all your space and time. He will fill all things. He is what, or who, everything means. He is the Logos that fills your chaos.
Forgiveness transforms the meaning of your past.
Hope launches you into your future.
Love frees you to live His Life now.
So don’t quit; climb back up on the diving board and let Him create you in the image of Love, with all the momentum of His Life.
It’s not your faith that creates the Savior; it’s the Savior that creates your faith.
In fact, that’s what He’s doing right now in space and time.
“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, (there is no place else), and all that is within them, saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’”
That’s Faith. God in Christ Jesus is creating Faith—in you—and He won’t fail. It’s Faith that conquers the Cosmos.
*Sermon discussion questions will be available here: Discussion Questions “How to Conquer the World: The Meaning of Your Scroll”