Revelation
The idea conjured up with the word “revelation” often makes even the most dedicated Christian stop and think, but I’ve found that few of us understand what revelation is. In one sense, it’s the name of the last book of the Bible (and often, the most confusing one). The title let’s in on how revelation is God’s way of telling us what will happen in the future, even at the end of time as we know it. The namesake book is a good-news story of great cosmic and spiritual warfare and it says, in essence: God wins and we win as we tag along with Him!
But biblical revelation is not limited to the last book or even to the Bible. It’s all through the Bible to be sure, and all over a believer’s life as they tune into the Holy Spirit. Revelation happens when God reveals something to humans that we would not otherwise know. When God tells Moses His name (Exodus 34:6ff), He is revealing His name but also His character. That’s a really good thing and something we would not otherwise be able to discern. As a result of all the good revelations in the Bible, many of Jesus’ followers think that revelation is always something good (like God is providing, defeating an enemy, healing a sickness, you get the idea).
I’ve found that many times, what God reveals is so bad on the surface that I wish it would’ve stayed hidden. Wrong attitude, dude, yes, but also a statement of reality. Within the last couple months, two things were revealed to me that are terrible, and one was revealed that is so good I might be able to forget the bad news.
The good thing is that God only reveals things to people that He trusts with that knowledge. He reveals something we can handle. He never reveals something just because He wants our opinion on it, but always because He wants us to act on the information in ways that please Him, conform to His will, and advance His kingdom (and He will always tell us what they are if we will ask and listen to the Holy Spirit, and read the Bible—those two sources tell all). When the revelation is bad, it’s usually God’s way of encouraging us to stand (see Ephesians 6), and when it’s good, it’s His way of showing His glory so that we be be grateful.
He revealed to a friend that her husband's behavior is abusive, for instance. That’s hard, but God gave her that truth because he loves her, she can handle it, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). It’s a lot easier to get out of a toxic relationship when God’s Word shows us its toxicity. Before that, it’s just one opinion against another, ad nauseum, and that makes things much harder to change. Sadly, my friend, though she has God’s Word on her side, is taking abude from family and church for not doing enough to make the relationship work. This is utter insanity, blame-shifting, and in itself abusive. Why won’t God’s people trust His Word!
You do not need to swim in an ocean of pain when God sets you free. No, life is not about you, and the goal of life is NOT pain avoidance despite what the world claims. The goal of life is obey God, and let Him reveal the truth, and let the truth set you free! He’s going to reveal more stuff throughout your life, and you can handle that too. The truth is always best.
