Victory

“ And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.“” ~ Revelation 5:5

We have all heard it said, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Why? How can a picture take the place of a lengthy description or a well-constructed speech? What power does a picture hold?

A picture is simply a visual image that takes the place of many words. Concepts and ideas can be displayed through the use of pictures in a way that lasts longer than the most well written speech or the most descriptive words. A well-crafted speech can be a powerful tool, but we are not always able to remember every word spoken. We do often remember clear pictures. Just look at our media. Pictures are used all the time to convey a message that sticks in our minds. A single picture of a child, grandchild, softball team, or family reunion tells a story all by itself. A story of love, camaraderie, joy, family, and connection. A picture captures, in a single moment, what it would take a host of words to convey.

The Book of Revelation is a book of pictures. John takes a series of pictures and builds a collage of images to remind his readers that Jesus is the focus of the believer’s life. Like a family scrapbook, the Book of Revelation is meant to remind us of what we already possess and of the promises that God is fulfilling in our lives. Revelation is meant to be a source of encouragement to the believer. A sort of family scrapbook to be viewed and cherished in times when we might forget who we are or, more importantly, whose we are. It is meant to lend strength to our decisions and lead us into the victory promised by Jesus.

As you read this week, let me encourage you to concentrate on three pictures. First, look for pictures that show us that Jesus wins. Second, look for pictures that tell us there is a battle going on. A battle between good and evil, right and wrong. Third, look for pictures that call us to choose a side. Revelation calls us to make a choice. Will we follow Jesus or the world?