November 11 Reflection

Revelation 16:8-21 (NRSV)
The judged curse God
The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch them with fire; they were scorched by the fierce heat, but they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.

The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness; people gnawed their tongues in agony, and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and they did not repent of their deeds.

The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up in order to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet. These are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. ("See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and is clothed, not going about naked and exposed to shame.") And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Harmagedon.


The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a violent earthquake, such as had not occurred since people were upon the earth, so violent was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered great Babylon and gave her the wine cup of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found; and huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, dropped from heaven on people, until they cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague.

Reflection
Wicked rise up to challenge God. It's hard for me to fathom why this would occur. But for some reason, some people tend to challenge God's authority and power and rule. I realize we all do this in one degree or another, but this seems to point towards a day of no return for this people. They are taking a stand against God and really sticking with it.

I'm just thankful for my walk with God. I run away at times in my sin but have always returned. Or I have noticed that God returned to me and welcomed me into his arms.

Prayer
Lord, be with those who seem to be stuck in this "no return" place. Open their minds to see your saving grace that we may welcome them as your children in grace once more. --- Amen