Revelation 13:18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the
number of the beast, for it is man's number. His
number is 666.
I can
remember a time in my youth when the number 666 both scared and fascinated me.
It was also a season in my life when I was into Ouija boards and communing with
dead spirits. I guess that as a teenager, I didn't really have any fear or
trepidation that I was dabbling with things beyond my knowledge. It was a dark
time in my young days and I am just so glad that I have come away from those negative
forces; instead, I have turned towards the light of God and His Son has
reclaimed me.
666 is still
a fearful number to many people, but what I've discovered is this: numbers,
signs, and symbols only have the power that we place upon them. If that number
or, for instance, a swastika, makes us fearful, it’s only because we allow our
fear to be maintained by the symbol. If we loathe them instead of fearing them,
then both numbers and symbols will have no power over us. Also, if we re-read
the Bible verse for today, we will soon realize that 666 represents human evil,
or what we call man’s inhumanity to man.
Love
counters fear and hope overcomes despair. If there is a symbol that
encapsulates this, then surely it must be the Cross of Christ. Evil, sin, and
death were all nailed to that dreadful tree along with Jesus – but He was the
only One to come back! This conveys to us the real power of God that is still
in the world today – the holy, almighty Spirit of Jesus Christ, our Savior and
Lord.
Perhaps you
are presently undergoing a time of uncertainty, worry, fearfulness, or despair.
Maybe your problems and issues seem insurmountable and threaten to overwhelm
your heart, mind, body, and soul. As Jesus would often say, “Fear
not, for I am with you to the very end.” In Him, you will find comfort
and assurance, courage and hope. Signs and symbols, numbers and beasts will
come and go, but, as the old hymn plainly states, the Cross of Christ will
tower above the wrecks of Time itself. Through it, we are completely rescued,
restored, and renewed, for Jesus will never abandon, forsake, or let go of us,
both now and forever.
Questions for personal reflection
What
does the number 666 mean to me? What does it mean to Jesus?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, because we are totally
human, we are still fearful of things that we do not understand and of symbols
that we cannot accept. Help us to know that You are the Lord of All creation
and the King of all the Earth, so who or what can make us afraid. Your loving
presence is our strength; Your holy Cross preserves and protects us. Be with us
this day and grant the reassurance of Your abiding love. In Your Holy Name, we
pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask questions, please send
him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s image is one of John’s Cross drawings called “First
Dawn,” which shows the empty Cross silhouetted against the dawning of the Day
of Resurrection. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on
the following link: First
Dawn.
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