Learning from the Past

(Revelation 1:11 KJV)  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Of all the giftings that a parent dreams of for their child…writing would rarely be at the top of the list. Could it be that most parents think that the gift of writing should be in the hobby category and not seriously taken as a means for support?

There is certainly something to be said for that conclusion and yet without writers and scribes one would not have the Bible, history or great literary works to learn from and be inspired by. The fact is, if things were not written down, one’s education would be reduced significantly.

However, God seems to have put something in mankind that drives him to record his thoughts and his history. If that is the case, then it has to be one of the most unsung and yet needed gifting of all time.

Perhaps when Adam was created he had the ability to remember everything like God did, but when Adam sinned he lost that ability and now man has to write down his thoughts.

My intent in using this text is not to discuss eschatology, but to point out that John (the writer) felt the need to record his vision in a book for others to read. I believe the driving force behind this 92 year old man to record his vision (revelation) is extremely significant. His vision was a message that everyone needed to read…and read…and read…and that is why it needed to be written down rather than just talked about.

Recently while ministering in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area I had the opportunity to visit the Petroglyph National Park. The park was one long range of volcanic eruptions instead of single mountain eruptions. I stood in awe as I looked at this one-of-a-kind phenomenon with all of its large black boulders laying there as memorials. One of the things that intrigued me was the 20,000 writings and images that had been pecked out on the black boulders. These writings and images dated back hundreds and even thousands of years ago.

I could not help but wonder what was on the minds of the artists/writers as they chipped away at the stones in order to get their message out. Why did they feel the need to take the time to do such art work/writings?

Was their reason for writing or drawing so that future generations could know of their existence or was it only to express their own feelings? Perhaps I need to ask myself the same question since I too write.

As I think back on my day at Petroglyph National Park I cannot help but wonder if those people felt at least something of what the apostle John felt as he wrote the book of Revelation. I realize their message was not on the same level as John’s message, but my point has to do more with the motivation behind the writing than the writing itself.

Father,

Thank You for giving us so many ways of expressing our thoughts and emotions. I pray that my own writings will inspire and encourage others to look up and move forward knowing that “all things work together for the good to them that love God.”

Amen