Far be it from me to tackle Revelation, or have any special insights. I have always viewed it as one of the most difficult and confusing chapters in the New Testament, and one that is mostly beyond my comprehension.

What did jump out at me was verse 11, and the comforting, timeless truth it proclaims: “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”

And, likewise, how that same reassuring message was repeated in Psalm 150 in beautiful, lyrical language, with the emphasis on God's holiness, strength and praiseworthiness.

What struck me was that, even though humankind has evolved greatly in the thousands of years since those words were written, and science has progressed and developed, not to mention human understanding, knowledge and learning, still those ancient words ring true. God is still God – always is, always was, and always will be. We can live in denial, or we can embrace the light of truth that peaks through, shining brightly when we allow it.

The gospel too is a deep, somewhat perplexing one. Much has been said about the lesson in the parable about investing and using gifts wisely. But I don't think I had ever noticed the opening line from Luke 19, verse 11: “While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God would appear there immediately.”

It sets the stage for the lesson Jesus wishes to impart, giving it context, and I found that helpful to remember. I saw that Jesus' message was more about the "not yet” and the “not what you are expecting."

So how does the parable about the servants investing the king’s coins fulfill Jesus’s reason for telling it? How does it answer the “not yet” and the “not what you are expecting”?

I think it means we shouldn’t be focused on what we want, but rather on what God wants. The people who were near Jerusalem and thought the kingdom of God would appear there immediately were focused on their own ideas of what God should do. They weren’t open to the workings of the Holy Spirit in the world. Jesus was about to do amazing and wonderful things, but not the kinds of things they were wanting and expecting. Hideously suffering? Dying in a cruel and ignominious manner? Sharing his body and blood with anyone willing to receive them? Rising from the dead and instituting a fledgling religious movement that would one day number in the billions? No thanks – they wanted instant vanquishing of their enemies and political stability.

So he told them a story about a hypothetical king who expected his servants to invest the money he left with them. It’s not what those people wanted to hear, but maybe a few of them, and hopefully many Christians throughout the ages, got the message: Trust God, and don’t be afraid to use what you have been given. Much has been offered to you so don’t ignore or waste it.

Let us not be concerned with what we think God should or shouldn’t do, and may we not cling to anything in fear. Instead, let us focus on what we can do to further the kingdom of God, to help those in need, making the most of the many gifts and talents we have been given, and remembering always, “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”