"Sweet as Honey"

“So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” (Revelation 10:9 ESV)

The Book of Revelation is full of vibrant images and symbolism. In chapter 19, God instructed John to take the scroll held by the angel. The angel told John to eat the scroll, which would taste sweet but would be bitter in John’s stomach.

God remains a mystery. We come to understand God through scripture, but He still remains a mystery. Those who are not of God cannot deal with or understand that this mystery will remain until God reveals it to His children in the last days at the end of the seven judgments.

Why is a child diagnosed with terminal cancer? Why does a plane crash kill many? What was God’s purpose in the 9/11 attacks? It is and remains a mystery. The issue is that Christians realize that God is in control of all things. As heartbreaking as it can be, we can understand why God does not act.

We are ready for death. Those in Christ know that life does not end in this world but that we ascend to the Lord our Savior. Those who fear death have not placed their faith in the Lord, or they would welcome death.

John, in today’s scripture, tastes the sweetness of the scroll and the bitterness of its aftertaste. The scroll is a representation of life and the mystery of God’s judgment. We know that the bitterness of suffering will be replaced by the sweetness of the resurrection. We accept the mystery of faith because we grasp the grace and mercy of the Lord.

In Luke 16:19-31, we see the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus used this parable to illustrate the bitterness and sweetness. The rich man had his sweetness in his worldly life, but when he died, he found himself in Sheol, or hell, unlike Lazarus, who was destitute and covered with sores. Having been laid before the rich man's gate or estate, Lazarus longed to eat even the scraps from the rich man's table, but the rich man never gave him any relief. Despite his wealth, the rich man never had mercy on Lazarus. When Lazarus died, he was resurrected and stood at the bosom of Abraham. This was a contrary belief in first-century Jerusalem.

This was in stark contrast to what the Jews, including the Pharisees, believed. They believed that those who were poor were sinners and were being punished by God. They saw trials and troubles as a judgment on sinners. We know that our trials and tribulations are there to mold us into the image of Christ. We know the bitterness of this life, the mystery of God, will end in sweetness, sweeter than honey.

In most cases, those outside of Christ fear death. Christians may have a uncertainties, but no person outside of Christ will not have some level fear death because of a natural conviction and consciousness of their own sin. The mystery of God and the inevitability of understanding justice are what cause fear in the hearts of all people.

We all live with risk. Trying to live in “safety” isolates one, and that is not what Christians are called to do; we are called to serve, and we must take risks. We do not live with fear because we know fear is a sin. Fear is doubting the sovereignty of the Lord.

I understand why those of the world fear death. Death is existential, inevitable, and without faith in the resurrection, there is no understanding that Christ defeated death. Satan had introduced death to humanity in the garden, and Adam and Eve died a spiritual death that was passed on in the form of sin. Christ, however, defeated Satan and death. Satan does not kill. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) It is God who destroys and gives life. It is God who will cast sinners into hell. Jesus came saying, 'The kingdom of God has come near; repent.'

We will all die. Everyone is on borrowed time; death will come for everyone. How will you face it? In fear, not knowing your eternity? Are you comfortable with death and your eternity? What is your basis for this comfort? Anything other than salvation through Christ Jesus is false security. Do you fear the bitterness of life, desiring sweetness, or do you carry the bitterness, knowing the sweetness is yet to come?

If you do not know Christ Jesus as your Savior, seek Him now. Repent of your sins and welcome bitterness, knowing the sweetness of eternity in the next life is yours. No one can live without hope.

Grace and Peace.