Silence is Golden

When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven....

Revelation 8:1 (NLT)

I am a busy person. I’ve spoken many times in this blog of how crazy an average day is for me. As I write this I know that as crazy as my days can sometimes be, some of you have it much more hectic than I do. Some of you have multiple children to deal with on a daily basis and as much of a blessing as children can be they are also a lot of work. Some of you work longer hours with much more responsibility than I have in my job. Some of you have sick family members that need care. For most of us an average day is jam packed with to do lists, responsibilities, and people that expect and demand things from us. It’s hard to sit back, sit still, and be silent. Heck for some of you even if you do get a chance to sit still your mind is racing a million miles an hour planning and preparing for the next day.

Up to this point the book of Revelation was cruising along. We read about the six seals being opened in chapter six at breakneck speed. Horses were galloping all over the world and judgments were falling. The earth was moving and shaking and stars were falling out of the sky!! Then something strange happens.

Before the seventh seal is opened we read last week that a pause occurred until all of God’s people were marked with the guarantee of God Himself. Then heaven erupted with praise and worship. Now just as the Lamb breaks the seventh seal on the scroll silence ensues for about a half an hour. Calm, peace, stillness, quiet, motionlessness, tranquility even; that’s what was going on in heaven. Why the dramatic pause? Does God have a taste for the theatrical? Why silence? Why now?

“Be still and know that I am God!

I will be honored by every nation.

I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

You see, while business in our lives is inevitable, so is God’s final victory. At that time everyone will stand quietly before the all-powerful Creator. While the earth shakes and mountains are laid low we will stand in quiet reverence before God. While stars are hurtling to the ground and the sun and moon are changing colors we will honor God with silence for His power and majesty.

If in the craziness of the end times we will stand silent before God than how come we can’t do so now? If as the world as we know it ceases to exist and we reverently humble ourselves with silence than how come we can’t find five minutes a day to sit in utter silence before God and just listen?

In a lot of different religions throughout the world converts take a vow if silence. Not us Christians though. You can’t shut us up. We are far too busy yapping, condemning, reproving, and reproaching. If only our yapping was filled with the Gospel imagine how many could be saved!!

Silence is beneficial. Silence is golden. We must seek God in times of silence. Our prayers are filled with us talking but how many of us (me included) take an equal amount of prayer time to listen? It is proper for us to be quiet and honor God for His power and might with silence. We should each take time throughout our busy day to be silent and exalt God.

You must all be quick to listen and slow to speak.

James 1:19 (NLT)

God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. We should do twice as much listening and half as much talking.

Next week we will discuss the first four trumpet judgments. God bless you and have a great week.