“After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands.” (Revelation 7:9-10 Contemporary English Version)
In spite of the positions I have held in life that required outgoing behaviors; positions that required speaking, teaching, leading, inspiring, mediating, negotiating, motivating, and elevating, I am an introvert. In spite of being named “Mr. Crazy” in my senior high school class, the award that is reserved for “Class Clown,” I am an introvert. You can call me on the phone, and I will cordially and willingly, without hesitation, provide you with Biblical counsel and I will willingly pray for you upon request, I am an introvert. I will do my best to comfort those who need comforting with truth found in the word. In my secular life, I have addressed students in a university’s biggest lecture room filled with 400 people, a microcosm of society’s diverse make-up, and I have spoken to gatherings of 14 and 40 and because of that you might assume I am an extrovert. But listen, I am an introvert. I was thinking about this early in the week and I asked myself, “Are there going to be any introverts in heaven?” Based on the opening verses found close to the end of the Bible, I came to the conclusion that there will be “former introverts,” but all of us on the inside lane on the race track of life, on the right side of the cross, all the saved will make some noise. If those many mansions that Jesus spoke about have windows, we can throw being an introvert out one of those windows.
So what does all this have to do with you? The message can be shortened, actually, in two words, “Practice now!” However, let me elaborate. Can’t let you get away with just two words! Practice now…practice praising the Lord with your mouth in songs and words of praise when you assemble with the saints! Practice now – praising God during the course of this very day, aloud, all by yourself or among others. At least say, “Praise God for without Him I would not even be here! Without Him I would not have so many blessings that have benefitted me!” Practice now, by responding to someone who talks about their accomplishment or achievements in your presence by saying, “Praise God! Look at how He has blessed you!” Today, this Thursday morning, you will surely have some opportunity to “practice now,” practice for heaven. There will be no introverts in heaven! Practice now my friend! Be blessed!
“After these things I heard something like the great and mighty shout of a vast multitude in heaven, exclaiming, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory (splendor, majesty) and power (dominion, might) belong to our God, because His judgments are true and righteous. He has judged [convicted and pronounced sentence on] the great prostitute (idolatress) who was corrupting and ruining and poisoning the earth with her adultery (idolatry), and He has imposed the penalty for the blood of His bondservants on her.” And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke shall ascend forever and ever.” Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures also fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah (praise the Lord)!” Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, “Praise our God, all you bond-servants of His, you who fear Him, the small (common) and the great (distinguished).” (Revelation 19: 1-2 5 The Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King