No Place To Hide

By F. D. Adkins

The earth shook beneath their feet, and the sky turned black. The stars pounded into the ground around them. The mountains moved, and so did they… running… searching for a place to hide. (Reference: Revelation 6:12-17 KJV).

They knew but thought their way was better. They had refused His love and chosen the ways of the world over the sacrifice He had made for them. They had made their choice, and now that choice would define their eternal fate. If only they had not run the other way.

I am reminded of the parable of the rich man and the beggar in Luke, chapter sixteen. The rich man had taken the wrong path, and he wanted to warn his brothers so they would not follow in his footsteps. But Abraham explained that they had been warned. They had God’s Word, given them by Moses and the prophets, filled with warnings. In Luke 16:29 (KJV), Abraham replies, “…They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”

And here at the end of Revelation, chapter six. Those who have refused the warnings are looking for a place to hide. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:15-16 KJV).

However, just as God’s Word plainly details our free will to choose Him and the eternal consequence if we choose not to, the Bible also makes it clear that one cannot hide from God. Hebrews 4:13 states, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (KJV).

So, what about those who did not turn away… those who are not running to hide because they chose the love of their Creator over the world? They are standing before the throne clothed in white as their Heavenly Father wipes away the last tears from their eyes.

“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:14-17 KJV

Friends, we cannot save those we love no more than the rich man could save his brothers. Jesus is the Savior. But we can warn those around us. We can let our lives reflect the Word of God. We can plant the seeds, and we can water those seeds. We can let the joy that can only be found in the presence of God shine in everything we do.

Thoughts to ponder:  If Jesus came back right now, have we done all we can do to make sure those around us will be clothed in white? Do those we encounter at work, school, and even the grocery store know we are Christians? Can they see the love of Christ in our daily lives?