Pot-o-Gold (Rev 1.3)

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3, NKJV)

Somewhere growing up I learned that at the end of every rainbow there is a pot of gold. But have you ever tried finding the end of a rainbow? The world is full of promises…but how many can you really count on? I guess that’s why I keep coming back to God’s Word. In a world where lies abound and promises are easily broken, the Word is an anchor for our souls in a stormy sea.

Of all the books in the Bible Revelation is unique in that it is the only one with a built-in blessing. If we read it, hear it, and keep the things written in it, then we will be blessed. This isn’t a “pot-o-gold” promise but a promise from the eternally faithful one who cannot lie. Why would reading, hearing and obeying an ancient prophecy be so good anyway? This is where faith steps in. By making the effort to study and practice the words in this book we demonstrate that we believe God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11.6).

I can’t explain it, but when I am anxious or troubled or feel that life stinks, reading and meditating on the Word restores my confidence in the Lord and flushes out my negative thoughts. It is a mystical and spiritual process that centers me in this wild and woolly world. Maybe that’s why the Holy Spirit has given this unique blessing in Revelation. Many people avoid this book altogether because of its reputation of “doom and gloom.” Maybe God realized that we needed an extra Blessing-Boost to get into it. Or maybe He was looking forward to that generation that will be living when all these things take place. Things will be so terrible that they will need all the blessing they can get!

Whatever the reason, there is something about knowing what’s going to happen and knowing that it’s going to happen soon that leads us to holy living. We’re not so quick to stuff all our eggs in the basket of this world, for at any moment we could hear the words, “Come up here!” (Rev 4.1) In the end I’m just thankful that I don’t have to understand why it works in order to enjoy the blessing. “Yessir, tharz gold in them words.”