THE 144,000 Moral and spiritual adulteration are common within the nominal church. Indeed, major so-called ministries have been created to deal with this growing blight. The early church was told to "purge out the old leaven," not try and recover it (1 Cor 5:7-8). Peter did not appoint a group to recover Ananias and Sapphira. Paul did not institute a recovery program for Demas, Alexander, Hymenaeus, Philetus, Phygellus, or Hermogenes (2 Tim 2:17; 1:15; 4:10,14). -- Tomorrow:
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Rev 14:1-4).
Devotion 18 of 26
This is not to be construed as an expression of opposition to recovering those caught in the snare of the devil. There is certainly a place for this (Gal 6:1-2; 2 Tim 2:24-26). The existence of defilement in the church, however, is to be taken with the utmost seriousness. Because of the jeopardy involved, only the spiritual are to engage in recovery efforts. Furthermore, they are to "consider" themselves in the activity lest they "also be tempted." As it is written, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal 6:1). Too, those who engage in an effort to recover the fallen are to remember that God must "give repentance" to such individuals (2 Tim 2 Tim 2:25).
All of this accentuates the seriousness of defilement, and the blessedness of its absence. The greatest spiritual awakenings are spearheaded by pure and undefiled people. Those aligned with the world, bring contamination upon themselves and all who are around them. They exclude themselves from Divine employment. Whether it is defilement in thought, deed, attire, or other expressions. God will NOT use the impure. Those with a penchant for customs, fads, and the likes, do well to ponder these things. The commonality of such preferences is most serious.
Because joining in affinity with the ungodly defiles, such alliances are shunned by the pure. This will be a mark of the ancient people when the Deliverer turns ungodliness away from them. It is a blessed thing to consider these realities. There are certain advantages to purity! They are not to be gainsayed, but appropriated.
FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS
"These are the ones who follow the Lamb WHEREVER He goes." There is such a thing as desiring the Lord to follow men in THEIR pursuits. This is not, however, the manner of the Kingdom. The redeemed multitude we are witnessing are so resolute in their commitment to the Lamb, they follow Him "WHEREVER HE GOES!"
It is not that purity is an unusual thing in life with the Son. This is actually the ONLY way to be identified with the Lamb. Through the years, however, this condition has become very rare. Even in the first century, when some suppose pristine purity existed, Paul wrote, "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's" (Phil 2:21). To Timothy Paul wrote, "that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me" (2 Tim 1:15). This parallels the expression of Isaiah concerning his time. "Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter" (Isa 56:11). Such a condition is tragic beyond words.
Remember, because of the departure of men from the faith, and their failure to receive the love of the truth, Satan was allowed to spread "strong delusion" in the world. Under his auspices, Christianity was institutionalized. It adopted a "form of godliness" that "denied" (or refused) "the power thereof" (2 Tim 3:5). Affiliation with the institution was now sufficient, with no vital connection with the Lord required. The "mind of Christ" was no longer the standard, and men took to themselves the authority belonging to the Lamb alone. This religious corruption became dominate, causing judgment to come from heaven.
Now, in our text, in the very midst of this spiritual defilement, the Deliverer turns ungodliness from Jacob, fulfilling God's covenant to them. This redeemed multitude will not subscribe to the corruptions of men. Instead, they "follow the Lamb wherever He goes." They are Christ-centered, not church-centered. They do not follow the Lamb in a discriminating way, selecting only the favorable and more convenient places. They "follow the Lamb wherever He goes." They adopt His agenda, and embrace His determinations. His very character is reflected in them: "not My will, but Yours, be done" (Lk 22:42).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the glorious prospect of the veil being lifted from Israel's heart.