THE 144,000 Although the described consistency of the 144,000 – purity, and following the Lamb wherever He goes – is unusual in the earth, it is the standard in the heavenlies. In fact, no other frame of spirit is acceptable. Those who cease following the Lord are no longer blessed by Him, nor can they possibly be identified with Him. Those who will be saved MUST have an appetite and preference for Him; i.e., His word, guidance, counsel, and comfort. If anyone can do without Jesus, they will NOT taste of His salvation, or be mightily used in His Kingdom! But those who are really pure, and are following the Lamb, realize Divine employment, and are effective in their work. -- 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 19 of 26
A REQUIREMENT
Jesus spoke in a straightforward manner about the necessity of following Him. He made absolutely no provision for those who refused to do this. We do well to hear His words. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt 16:24). This was not a periodic requirement, but a daily one. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow me" (Lk 9:23).
Do you want to serve Christ? Is it your desire to be employed by Him, and utilized in the execution of His will? Hear His words. "If any man serve me, let him follow me." He does not, however, allow a sporadic, seasonal, or cyclical following. Coming after Christ involves BEING where He is! " . . . and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor" (John 12:26).
In a vivid description of His people, the Lord Jesus described their nature to follow, or pursue, Him. "the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. " . . . the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers . . . I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own . . . And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice . . . My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:3-27, NKJV).
These are the characteristics of Christ's people – of those who are saved. (1) They follow Him. (2) They know Him. (3) They will not follow an imposter. (4) They do not recognize the voice of charlatans. (5) They hear His voice. Let it be clear, in salvation there is no provision made for any other frame of spirit! This is a most arresting consideration when laid along side the modern church! It simply does not measure up to these requirements. Honest disciples know this is the case. Any other condition contradicts the claim of being Christ's church.
There is no connection with church history, a church movement, or a theological position that will compensate for not following Jesus. Those who do not follow Him simply do not belong to Him. They are not His sheep, and they are lying if they say they are. Jesus said His sheep follow Him – and they do!
SUMMARY
Our text, then, portrays a multitude "from all the tribes of Israel" as genuinely regenerated. They have not merely adopted some Gentile manner, or embraced a hollow form of the truth, so common in the Gentile church. Their hearts have been circumcised (Rom 2:29; Col 2:12), the law has put into their mind and written upon their hearts (Heb 10:16), and they have been "joined to the Lord" (1 Cor 6:17). Theirs is not a profession of allegiance to the Lamb, but a very real and perceptible one. Their commitment is obvious.
I want to make clear that these are not super-saints. The description given is that of every person Christ receives to the glory of God (Rom 15:7). It does, however, represent a large-scale work of God, for which He has often been known. His great salvation is sometimes evidenced in the turning of great multitudes from sin to Christ. Such turnings, however, never include a compromise of Christ's established requirements. Professed Christian men who manage to accumulate great masses of people are often known for their compromise, and even silence on key matters. However, Jesus and those He employs never do so.
The world will be covered with the knowledge of the Lord (Isa 11:9; Hab 2:14), but not through defiled and uncommitted people! Lifeless religion CANNOT produce spiritual life. Those who do not follow the Lamb wherever He goes CANNOT "turn many to righteousness," or "shine as the brightness of the firmament" (Dan 12:3). Spiritual awakenings, whether on a small or large scale, do NOT come through those who are not found following the Lamb wherever He goes, preferring Him above all else.
Here, then, the whole house of Israel is seen embracing the Messiah they once rejected. Blessed day, when such a mighty resurrection occurs!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the prospect of a spiritual awakening spearheaded by a genuinely converted, informed, and devoted people.