The Hardest Decision: Comfort or Conviction?

In Revelation 10:8-11, we witness a powerful moment where the Apostle John is instructed to take a scroll from an angel and eat it. This act might seem strange at first glance, but it carries profound symbolism and echoes a similar event in the life of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel. Both men were tasked with delivering messages from God—messages that were sweet to the taste but bitter in their consequences. This tension between sweetness and bitterness captures the essence of God's Word: it can be comforting, yet it can also be challenging and convicting.

John's Task and the Scroll
Revelation 10:8-11 introduces a pivotal moment in John's vision. John, already overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he's seen, is given a new task. A voice from heaven commands him to take a scroll from an angel standing on both land and sea. The scroll is small, but its significance is anything but. John is told to eat the scroll, a symbolic act with deep roots in biblical tradition.

John obeys, and as foretold, the scroll is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach. This experience represents the dual nature of God's message. On one hand, the word of God is a source of life, hope, and sweetness for those who receive it. But on the other hand, it brings judgment and the realization of difficult truths, which can be hard to swallow.

A Parallel with Ezekiel
This moment in John's life mirrors an earlier event in the ministry of the prophet Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 2:8-3:3, the prophet is called to speak to the house of Israel, a rebellious people under Babylonian captivity. To prepare him for this difficult mission, God commands Ezekiel to eat a scroll filled with "words of lamentation and mourning and woe" (Ezekiel 2:10). Like John, Ezekiel finds the scroll sweet in his mouth, but the message he must deliver is filled with bitterness.

The parallel between these two prophets highlights the consistency of God's calling. Whether to Israel through Ezekiel or to the nations through John, God's word remains a mix of sweetness and bitterness. It offers salvation to those who receive it, but it also brings judgment upon those who reject it.

The Bitterness of the Message
The bitterness that John experiences after eating the scroll reflects the weight of the message he is about to deliver. Just as Ezekiel's scroll contained lamentation and woe, John's message is one of impending judgment on the nations. He is tasked with prophesying again "about many peoples and nations and languages and kings" (Revelation 10:11). This is not a light or easy task.

In the same way, those who preach or teach the word of God today sometimes face the bitterness of hard truths. Delivering God's message of repentance and judgment can be difficult, especially in a world that often rejects or resists it. But like John, we are called to be faithful, knowing that obedience is more important than the comfort of the messenger.

Personal Experience of the Sweet and Bitter Word
Many pastors and believers can relate to this experience of feeling the sweetness of God's word in their own hearts while recognizing the bitterness it might bring to others. For example, Dr. Roger Patterson shared his experience of preparing a sermon that he knew would offend some members of his congregation. He felt a physical weight, like God was pressing him down until he delivered the message. It was a difficult sermon to preach, but it was one that he knew he had to speak because it was the truth from God's word.

This is a reminder that sometimes God's word confronts us, and that confrontation can be painful. Yet, as Hebrews 12:6 says, "The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." God's correction, though bitter at times, is always rooted in His love for us. He wants to lead us into truth, grace, and righteousness, even if that path requires difficult messages along the way.

Obedience Over Comfort
John's immediate response to the command to eat the scroll is simple: he obeys. This act of obedience is significant. John had already been through much in his vision, seeing things that would terrify any person. Yet, when the command came, he did not hesitate. He took the scroll, ate it, and prepared himself to prophesy once again.

This obedience mirrors the calling of all believers. We are to consume God's word, allowing it to fill our hearts and minds, even when it is uncomfortable or challenging. We are to be faithful in proclaiming that word to others, even when the message is not easy. As followers of Jesus, our greatest task is to ingest the word of God, be obedient to it, and share it with the world around us.

The Urgency of the Message
The scroll that John eats symbolizes the message of impending judgment on the world. The nations will face devastation, but John’s role, and indeed our role as modern believers, is to warn people of what is coming. This message should motivate us to act. If we understand the bitterness of the consequences of rejecting God's truth, we should be moved to share the sweetness of salvation through Jesus with urgency.

God's plan has always involved His people sharing His message. As John was commissioned to prophesy to the nations, so are we commissioned to share the gospel with the world. There is no plan B. We are God's plan A, and it is our responsibility to tell the world about Jesus.

Conclusion: Sweetness and Bitterness in Our Faith Journey
The experience of John eating the scroll is a vivid reminder that our journey with God is both sweet and bitter. His word is life-giving, offering hope, grace, and transformation. Yet, it also confronts us with hard truths about sin, judgment, and the need for repentance. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embrace both the sweetness and the bitterness of God's message.

The call to prophesy, to speak God's word, is not limited to people like John or Ezekiel. It extends to all of us who follow Jesus. We have the greatest message of hope, and the world needs it. The time is now to proclaim it with boldness and faithfulness, trusting that God’s Word will accomplish His purposes.

This blog is based on the message shared by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday September 15, 2024. Check out the full message below!