THE MAN
… give me a man, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one”.
Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!”
Everyone, everywhere, is looking for that one man who will bring the long-awaited and expected change—change in the nation, in the economy, in our states, our communities, our workplaces, our homes, and even in our individual lives. We are all searching for someone who will come in and make everything right, someone who will change everything for the better. As much as this longing keeps hope alive, reality often falls short of expectation, because the best of man is still human. No matter how gifted, sincere, or determined, every human being has limitations, weaknesses, and flaws. Even the best among us will fail at some point, not necessarily because they want to, but because no man can fully and completely satisfy another person’s needs forever. It is therefore unfair to place an unbearable burden on any individual, expecting them to meet our desires endlessly. They may succeed for a season, but sooner or later, they will wear out.
Nevertheless, I have Goodnews for you, there is someone who can and who is willing and able to bear it all, his name is JESUS! He said it very clearly and boldly, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
And He is not only willing and capable, but He is worthy to. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice, they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Goliath made a fatal mistake when he asked for a man. God answered him not with a trained soldier, but with a shepherd boy who had no military experience. Yet that was the one God used to defeat and silence him forever. You do not taunt the children of God and escape unchallenged. God fights for His people, often in ways that are miraculous, unexpected, and beyond human understanding. Are you a child of God?
For as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become sons of God. Jesus is waiting for you today, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”.
