Victory Day Forty-Eight: Don’t Cry, the Lion Has Won

Remember the baby shampoo commercial that showed pouty faced babies with soap in their eyes? The slogan was, “No more tears.” That’s what today’s verse promises us; we don’t have to cry anymore. Our reason for hope is much better than a gentle shampoo that won’t sting our eyes. Jesus, the mighty Lion of Judah, has already won over the forces of evil that bring tears in this life:

“Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,

the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory.

He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Rev. 5:5, NLT

This was one of the elders already in heaven, reassuring John that everything was going to be okay. Jesus would take care of it. John was weeping because no one in heaven or earth was worthy to open the scroll in God’s hand that was sealed shut. Unless someone did, there was no way to know what was going to happen at the end of time. John couldn’t bear it.

It would be like watching an action movie to the final climactic moment, then having the power go out. There, in the darkness, we would sit tense and frustrated. Did the hero and heroine make it out alive? Did they get the bad guy? Save the earth from annihilation by aliens? Find the cure before the child dies? What happened?! Imagine then, John’s torment, knowing the end of time was coming in real life. He had been told to write everything down for future generations. He longed to give his readers hope. What would he tell them?

You and I also weep with frustration and grief over the consequences of sin in ourselves and our world. We can’t see what’s going to happen. We wonder, Is there any hope? Are we going to make it? The answer is the same for us as it was for John. God has written the end of the story and He holds the future in His hands. Only One is worthy to reveal that future and save us from the dire penalties of sin. And He’s already done it.

The Lion of Judah has already won the victory. He has conquered sin and death. If we accept His forgiveness and trust Him today, and each day as it comes, we don’t have to weep with fear over our eternal destiny. Even though we cannot see what our future holds, we know who does, and He has taken care of it. After these times of trouble on earth, we will be safe with Jesus in heaven. Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the Morning.