THE 144,000 -- 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 24 of 26
" . . . for they are without fault before the throne of God."
Here again the very nature of salvation in Christ Jesus is described. Redemption ultimately brings people before the very throne of God, and does so effectively. Although the people from whom the vast multitude proceeded, were once noted for crucifying the "Lord of glory" (1 Cor 2:8), and not receiving the Lord who came to them (John 1:11), here is a generation of them that is now "without fault before the throne of God." Once their house was "left desolate" (Lk 13:35), but now they flourish again. Once they were dispersed, scattered among the nations (Isa 18:2,7; Jer 30:11), but now they are gathered, just as the Lord promised (Jer 23:3; 29:14; Micah 4:6). Once the Lord disowned them, saying they were not His people, but now they are "the people of God" (Hos 1:10; Rom 9:26). Once a vast number of them were "broken off," but now an even larger number has been grafted into their tree again (Rom 11:17,23-24). In this text we are witnessing "life from the dead" (Rom 11:15).
This multitude of Israelites have been "justified from all things," from which they could "not be justified by the Law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). The "first covenant" was NOT "faultless" (Heb 8:7), but now they are! In fulfillment of God's own promise, the Deliver has come out of Zion and "turned away ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom 11:26). Blessed be the name of the Lord!
THE ULTIMATE TEST
The ultimate test of the work comes "before the throne of God." It is how God sees men that is the real issue, not how they see themselves, or how their peers see them.
What will be true of the entire body of the redeemed is here declared of a throng "from all the tribes of Israel" – "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph 5:27). As Peter would say, they are "found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (2 Pet 3:14). In keeping with Divine aptitude, the Lord has presented them "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24).
This is real faultlessness! Redemption has removed the stain of sin so thoroughly the eye of Omnipotence perceives the redeemed as "without fault." It is not an imagination, nor is it an overstatement or exaggeration. The unspeakable sin of Israel – a sin that brought a curse upon them has been purged. Whether on an individual level, a national level, or a global level, when the salvation of God is received, a condition of irreproachable purity ensues.
Only justified people, cleansed from sin in both character and conscience, will be used mightily by God. Defilement always excludes one from Divine service, whether he has been supposedly "trained" for service or not. Oh, that men were more aware of this. Unfortunately, it may be said of many in the church, just as it was of those in Israel of old, "They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation" (Isa 32:5). Such people are not "vessels for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim 2:21). It appears from the present condition of things within the professed church that this is not generally known. It certainly is not being expressed with any degree of consistency.
The covering of the earth with the knowledge of the Lord will be facilitated through a holy people. It will not be the result of religious organization or sectarian efforts. In fact, a walk with Christ is predicated upon purity. Where a lack of purity exists in professed believers, the work of the Lord will not be evident, and a walk with Christ is not being experienced.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, hasten the day when those who wear Your name are noted for their purity and holiness.