Ensign: The Book That Judges You
AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS 6 February 2015
Never judge or you can't judge a book by its cover. That means how something looks on the outside is not necessarily an indicator of what's inside. Two days ago I was listening to the radio at work and heard about a book cover that would open the book it's placed on only for a person who approaches it without judgment. They can't look too happy, can't look too sad, can't look too ... anything, but must approach the book with as still a face as they can manage for the book to unlock.
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
This trial technology was developed and covers an art journal in the Netherlands, and the premise of its creator is that, since the journal itself is a selection of work already evaluated and judged, that the artwork within does not need to be judged again by someone who opens the book. ... One of those things you knew it was possible to invent, but you have to ask why. Also, can someone approach a book or anything or anyone else with a truly neutral point of view?
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
The "neutral point of view" is an Ensign topic for another day. And it's not as though the book cover reads your mind, you just have to be very careful how you approach it. Thankfully, we have in the Bible a book that doesn't judge whether or not you are worthy to open it -- and as far as I know, the Bible is God's Word but it is hardly going to start squirming if you approach it, or not open if you approach it after a bad or a good day. You and I are the ones who'll likely do the squirming.
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
There is one book in the Bible -- no, not the collection of sixty-six books you read in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation -- too that no one can read, that too because we are unworthy -- we are not without sin -- to do it. John refers to it in his vision of heaven in the fifth chapter of Revelation (the verses are here in between paragraphs), and "to loose the seals" means to break open the seals set in time and place by God as King around a scroll, not a bound volume as we think of a book today.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
The question "who is worthy" is essentially asking "who deserves to judge the world". You and I may want to sometimes or act like we know what God's job is and are willing to hasten the process -- some days for me WAY more than others -- but that is not our job. As followers of Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah, King of the Fig Tree, as Savior and Lord, Who is without sin, we are never called to pronounce the final judgment on others. There's nothing in the Great Commission about that.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
You see, the Bible is the book that judges you. And me. No matter where we come from and where we open it, the potential for something we read there, for something God our Creator (whether you believe He is or not) has used a plethora of people through fifteen centuries of recorded history to write and pulled together through a variety of agents to make ... I guess we would say today "make happen", there is something there for you. And me.
[For more details on the book Jesus takes in heaven and what happens when He opens it, please read the rest of chapter five -- and the rest of Revelation, for that matter.]
David
P. S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with you, and I hope it encourages you too. If I'm not or you want me to get lost, please let me know -- thank you!
Thank You, Lord, that we can come to You in praise and prayer and that You provide for all our needs, even the ones we don't know we have! Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence there and around the world.
Thank You, Lord, for all of us in leadership and service here and abroad, as well as for opportunities we have and the promise of new life! I pray we all seek and have a blessed week. Amen.
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