Today’s reading is Revelation 21.
A Surprising Sin
In Revelation 21:8, John provides a list of sins for those whose portion is in the lake of fire instead of in the New Jerusalem:
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death (ESV).
Does anything on that list surprise you?
I’m not surprised at all that murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars, all of whom are faithless to the Lord, are on that list. Detestable is a bit odd to me, but I can see it when I recognize the detestable or abominable are those who do abominable or detestable things like follow idolatry and its practices (see Leviticus 18:30; 20:23; 1 Kings 21:26; Hosea 9:10).
“Cowardly,” however, stands out to me. It surprises me. Being afraid is a sin subject to the wrath and punishment of God? Or is it only extreme fear which could be called cowardice? Why is this on the list?
Ancient Cowards
The verb form of this uncommon word is found in a handful of poignant passages in the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures, helping us grasp why it gets put on this list.
In Deuteronomy 1:21, Moses said:
See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or *be dismayed* (ESV).
Do not be dismayed. That’s our term.
Then in Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Moses said again, encouraging Israel to fight against kingdoms of the Promised Land:
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or *be in dread* of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you…Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or *be dismayed* (ESV).
Go take the land. Do not be in dread or be dismayed. We see these same sentiments in Joshua 1:9; 8:1; 10:25.
While these passages speak to the second generation of Israelites who took the land, it reminds us of the first generation that didn’t. When they heard the report of the 10 spies about the giants in the land and how hard it would be to take the land, they were afraid. Rather than acting in faith, they acted without faith in cowardice. And they missed out on the Promised Land.
Natural Consequences
Think about this for a minute. God had promised Israel a land flowing with milk and honey. All they had to do was go in, stand up against the cities of men, take on the giants, and God would win the victory for them. However, they were faithless and cowardly.
They refused to go take the land. Is it shocking that those who refused to go take the land, didn’t get to live in the land? The people didn’t miss out on the land because they committed the sin of faithless cowardice and therefore God punished them not to be in the land. Rather, in faithless cowardice, they refused to enter the land and received the natural consequence of not dwelling in the land.
Granted, in that ancient case, after being rebuked and the natural consequence of their choice being explained to them, they did then try to take the land. However, they tried to do so without God (Numbers 14:39-45). While that may have seemed to involve bravery, they were still acting faithlessly. They were putting their faith in the wrong thing. Without God, they didn’t have the strength, power, or military prowess to win that battle.
The point of all this, I hope, becomes clear. The issue with cowardice, as well as faithlessness is not that we commit the sin of cowardice and God decides to punish us for it. The point is when we act in faithless cowardice, we refuse to take hold of the city of God promised for our possession. If we, in cowardice, refuse to stand up in the city of God, by definition we can’t dwell in that city. There is only one other option, wandering in the wilderness on the outside into the lake of fire.
We Get what We Ask For
We often say, and rightly so, those who are punished in eternity get what they deserve. Certainly, those who live impenitently in sin, rebelling against God, deserve punishment. However, this demonstrates another aspect to us. Those who are punished in eternity actually get what they ask for.
Oh, sure, no one given the stark choice of “Would you rather go into New Jerusalem or into the lake of fire?” will say, “Sign me up for the lake of fire.” However, when we choose the faithless cowardice of compromising with Babylon in order to protect our income, our prosperity, or our present peace, we are choosing Babylon. When we take on the mark of the Beast and the False Prophet so we can have ease in the present time, we are refusing to be New Jerusalem. We are refusing to be the pure Bride of Christ.
If we are refusing to go up and take possession of the city God has promised us, we must not be surprised when we don’t actually get to live there. Further, we must not be surprised to discover the wilderness outside the city is as bad as God warned us. Perhaps we didn’t believe God when He told us we were instead choosing a lake of fire, but He did warn us. If the lake of fire is our portion, it will only be because we asked for it.
Don’t Be Cowardly
This does not mean we are to be brazenly in the faces of the world, rebuking them right and left, arguing with them about every detail. It does however mean, we must make our own stands. We must lead our peaceful, quiet lives in humble submission to God no matter the outcome. We must share the gospel in the face of opposition and disbelief. We must live that gospel, living with God as our king, though the world refuses to honor Him as such. We must do this in faith that God will conquer the giants for us.
He will. Be strong and courageous. Don’t fear or be dismayed. Do not be in dread of Babylon and the Babylonians. Trust God. He will bring you into His New Jerusalem. He will make you His Bride.
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 21.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Revelation 21 admonish you?
Read the Bible 