The Daily Word of Righteousness

There's More Than Just Being "Saved," #4

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:9-11—NIV)

The above reference may be to twenty-four people, twelve elders taken from the Mosaic covenant and twelve from the new covenant; or it may be symbolic of a much larger number. Their role in the Kingdom is to be in God's Presence; to worship Him; to speak of His worthiness.

Would you like this assignment? I think we have become so occupied with saving souls, as necessary as this is, and helping the world out of its problems, that we often forget how God views His creation.

I believe God today is looking for some who will worship Him constantly with great fervency, who continually will press into His Presence, who want to know Him for His own sake, who are not trying to get something out of God. When God has a few people like this it makes the rest of the creation more palatable. Love is the strongest source of motivation there is.

This is why I am saying there is more than just being saved from the Day of Wrath. There is a Kingdom that consists of people at all levels of relationship to God.

When we believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized in water, calling on the name of the Lord, God receives us. From then on His Spirit deals with us according to the calling that rests on us. As Jesus said, "To sit on My right hand and on My left in My Kingdom will be given to those for whom these exalted positions have been prepared."

And then the Lord spoke of the baptism these shall be baptized with; the cup of sorrow these shall drink.

Each one of us must respond to the Lord according to what has been entrusted to us. On some there are relatively few demands. On others the demands are total. God deals night and day, day and night with those appointed to the highest levels of holiness, perfecting every thought, every word, every nuance of attitude and behavior. This is because they are called to be close to God.

There are those who have been given ten talents and others who have been given one talent. To whom much is given, much shall be required. Each of us must be totally faithful with what he or she has been given.

Because there is so much more involved than just being saved from wrath, the Christian churches must rethink their emphases. Evangelism always is to be conducted. But the main emphases of the churches must be on bringing the saints to maturity. As the saints are taught and fed the meat of the Word, the various callings that are on them will be revealed. Their gifts and ministries will begin to operate.

To be continued.