LWCF

"Behold I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." -Revelation 16:15

Keep your clothes on! When some people come home they immediately begin disrobing. They are getting comfortable because they're home. They have entered into their rest; or at least a place of rest. Listen Christian. Keep your clothes on, you have not yet entered into your rest! Don't get too comfortable. This place is not your home! Watch and pray, our Lord is coming back! Don't be caught unprepared for that glorious meeting. And what is our attire? Put on Christ. Trade your rags for that heavenly garment, the righteousness of Christ, and be ready.

"They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds." -Revelation 16:11

Rather than come humbly to the Great Physician for relief, some people would prefer to rage against Him in their pain. In the midst of their deserved torment these afflicted people are consciously choosing to blaspheme God. They are cursing His holy name for all they are worth! In Him alone resides the anesthetic that they desire but because of the hardness of their hearts they would much rather suffer, with curses on their lips, than repent and know peace and relief. God, give us soft hearts! May our circumstances never cause us to curse your name. 

"And I heard another from the altar saying, 'Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.'" -Revelation 16:7

As God's judgment is poured out upon the earth, people will say, "What kind of loving Father would punish people like that?" even while their last cynical question hangs on their lips, "Why would a loving God let bad things happen to good people?" This is the reconciliation of those two thoughts. A Father who has seen His kids abused and murdered brings forth the fullness of His wrath; and God's wrath is devoid of evil. God's judgment is true and righteous in its application and execution. This complete judgment, poured out upon humanity, and witnessed in Revelation, is the recompense for ages of crime patiently endured by our Father. As the psalmist writes, "But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand."* Lord, help us to understand that while our judgment and wrath are often vindictive and ugly, Your judgment and wrath remains true and righteous. 

*Psalm 10:14

"And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.'" -Revelation 15:2-4

Simple: It is the saints' good and eternal pleasure to worship God! Our worship contains truth and magnifies the glory of our Lord. May His praise go on forever!