“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal Gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7 ESV)
This verse reminded me of watching a skywriter leave a message in the skies over Arizona. The pilot not only had to do all the complicated things a pilot does to fly an airplane, he was now using it as a writing instrument, too. Soaring through the sky at 150 mph at 10,000 feet, the pilot skillfully made all the twists and turns it took to smoke out the message, “Go Vote!” And yes, the pilot even added the exclamation point as a beautiful flourish.
I wonder how many students at the University of Arizona saw this wonderful display that day. It was one last ditch effort to get them participating in the electoral process, but they had to look quickly to see it. Because for all the training that writing legibly in the sky requires, the six letters soon began to break apart, elongating into thin strands of smoke and then, in a few short minutes, became like a child’s scribbles.
But this isn’t the way God has dealt with us, is it? He hasn’t left us wondering what He has to say. He hasn’t breezed by our lives, dazzling us with a spectacle here and there and some message we soon can’t comprehend. No, He’s become deeply involved in our lives. He’s given us prophets and priests, judges, kings, and even an angelic voice proclaiming the “eternal Gospel” of God “to every nation and tribe and language and people.”
Most of all, He’s given us His Son, His only beloved Son. It is this Gospel, this Good News, that God has so graciously given to us and that we experience each time we open the Scriptures and read of Jesus’ life. God has clearly let us know that He has turned it all around for us, and this He did through Jesus.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the Law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4 ESV).
Nothing could be plainer, but you still might miss it if you’re not careful.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have shown us plainly Your love for us in Jesus. Thank You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber.
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever seen an airplane skywrite? Do you remember what the message was?
2. What can we do to bring the Gospel to “every nation and tribe and language and people”?
3. How has God spoken to us clearly? What has He said to us in Jesus?
