“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God” (Revelation 19:11–13 ESV).
Fun fact! I love youth. I’m not sure of the actual definition of the aforementioned category, “youth,” but I really enjoy work with middle school youth, senior high youth, and college students. There is something about these ages, where every individual seems on the crux of something new. They are trying to figure out this life thing and are usually open to conversation and discussion and contemplation of anything, from determining the best flavor of Gatorade to what the purpose and meaning of life is.
I dug out the Revelation verse above several years ago when I was asked to speak to a group of junior high girls. I prayed, and I created a presentation about something my heart longed to know when I was a wee middle schooler. What did I desperately long to know about as a middle schooler? Boys.
Classy, huh?
What I discovered as I delved into Scripture, though, didn’t just speak a word of truth into the struggle that was my youth. It spoke a Word of Truth into my marriage. And who would have guessed that this timely word was found in the pages of Revelation?!
Womenfolk want the white horse. It’s true. We may even say it’s not, but we are knit with a desire for the white horse, the knight charging in. The whole romantic package. I, being a strong independent young one, fought this tooth and nail. I refused to recognize it, while I still searched high and low for it, usually in the most unhealthy places. I wanted someone to want me, yes, but I also wanted someone to rescue me. As a youth, I didn’t have the knowledge or the language to identify that my search after boys and admiration had nothing to do with romance, and everything to do with an Eternal God.
As a married woman, I still put a ton of pressure on my husband. I want him to fill me. I want him to be funny when I need him to be funny. I want him to be intensely romantic, but not embarrassingly sensitive. I want manly and rugged and handsome and artistic and well-groomed and . . . and . . . and . . .
I want it all. But that is not his job.
That is His job.
Revelation finally gave me words to define everything I had ever been looking for. I did want a rescuer. Someone to hold me secure and precious, sword blazing against the evil of the enemy that surrounds me. This isn’t wrong. This is God revealing Himself to His child. My solution, however, was misplaced.
If you read Revelation 19, the writer witnesses a glimpse of the marriage feast of the lamb and the choir singing praises to the Lamb. What does the writer do? He promptly bows down to the angel presenting him with the information. While this looks idiotic to us, we do it all the time. We ask our husbands to fill a place only God can fill. We ask the men in our life to be our everything. To redeem us from trouble and heartache, to give us the life of our dreams.
The angel tells the writer of Revelation, “Get up! Don’t bow to me! I’m only the messenger.” (Or more exactly in Revelation 19:10 “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”)
Revelation 19 continues in verse 11 to give us sure and certain truth: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
Jesus. He’s our man on a white horse. He is our Rescuer and Redeemer and Savior and Friend and Comforter. He is our Truth. He isn’t just called faithful. He is Faithful.
Husbands: You are the messenger. You have the opportunity to fill your family and your home with the Word at every turn. This gift of being a strong spiritual leader in the household is a priceless treasure. Please, please bring your wife and children and grandchild and communities the Word. Speak the Word; gather those you love in the pew to hear the Word.
Wives: Let your husband get off the white horse. Give that place to Jesus, who is the one who fills us and is ever so faithful. Ask your husbands to pray with you; don’t criticize them for not praying. Pray for your husbands in their difficult job of being leader of a sometimes unruly household, and ask God to build them up as spiritual leaders in your home and in the world around them. Praise God for redeeming you so that you can enjoy this life with your husband. Praise God that the hard work of the cross is already done, the battle won, and you are free to enjoy one another in the grace of the Gospel.
Singles: Give God His proper place. Know that you are treasured and loved and precious to Him. He has a plan. There may be romance in your life to come, or there may not, because He has something else in store. Place it in His hands. May the whole people of God pray that you are built up and treasured by all of us around you in the Church. You offer so many gifts in this season of life, and we are blessed by them!
A white horse. A rider. Smoldering eyes. Many crowns. Robes dipped in the blood of Life. I cannot wait for that day I see it all in living Technicolor. Until then, we all wait together, revealing a little more of Him to one another as we share the Word and His love around our tables and in each and every relationship.
