Who has the Power?

It is said that the Emperor Nero played his violin while he watched all Rome burn. He believed that he had ultimate power, so it didn't matter what happened to his city of empire. 

As Lord Acton observed, 'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely'.

We are so familiar with the abuse of power in our world, whether it is from the rich and exploiting, or violent and destroying. But is that the end of the story?

Not if you know your Bible well enough to know that God is still on his throne, and in Jesus he has dealt with those who have stolen power. 

The Book of Revelation was written to Christians late in the first Christian century who were experiencing the destructive results of power abuse, mostly from the Roman authorities. But they are reminded that God is still sovereign. 'And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder.' (Revelation 4.2-5)

This vision of heaven, with the Lord God Almighty on the throne of the universe, will have brought great comfort to struggling Christians. 

The vision develops, when Jesus makes his entry on the scene. '“Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders.' (Revelation 5.5-6)

The worship of heaven then takes up a new song. 'And they sang a new song with these words: 

“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. 

For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 

And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5.9-10)

Today, in all the mess and muddle of our daily lives, where many things don't work out the way we would want, we need to know that the ultimate power in the universe is held in the nail -pierced hands of Jesus. Knowing that helps me to carry on, trusting Him to make good on every promise.

Best wishes,

Richard