How Many Will Be There?
“After these things I looked, and behold,
(The Revelation to John 7: 9-10 NASB)
a great multitude which no one could count,
from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb,
clothed in white robes,
and palm branches were in their hands;
and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
This week, I received the strangest phone call. As I was sitting at my desk, working through the curriculum for the new semester, the phone rang. Not often does my phone ring, and when it does ring, the caller is usually someone from the university calling. This week, the caller was different.
As I answered the phone, the caller identified herself as someone who was an author, who had self-published her previous books, and who was now working to produce an interactive book for children. This was an interesting interruption to my day.
- Then the conversation turned to a different topic.
- Then the conversation became one of questions.
- Then the conversation launched into one that centered around Christianity.
What do we do when the Holy Spirit allows interruptions into our day?
- Do we hang up on the Holy Spirit’s leading?
- Do we run the other way?
- Do we stop talking and begin praying, asking the Lord for the words to say?
- Do we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit, to share the Gospel message with another?
Do we answer the calling for which we have been called?
“Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 4: 23-25 & 5: 1-2 NASB)
but for our sake also,
to whom it will be credited,
as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
He who was delivered over because of our transgressions,
and was raised because of our justification.
[The apostle Paul speaks of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world]
Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith
into this grace in which we stand;
and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
- Do we worship the Lord Jesus Christ for all that He has done for us?
- Do we lift our hands in worship, or do we keep them down by our side?
- Do we lift our voices in worship, or do we keep our mouth closed instead?
- Do we lift our praise in worship, or do we keep our salvation secret inside us?
What do we do when the Holy Spirit allows interruptions into our day?
Do we answer the calling for which we have been called?
Noah was faithful in his walk with the LORD & his entire family of eight people were saved with him in the ark—“and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark.”
- This historical evidence is recorded in the Bible, found in Genesis 7: 23.
Abraham was faithful in his walk with the LORD & he was greatly blessed by God.
Abraham’s generation was mighty—“and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is one the seashore; . . .”
- This historical evidence is recorded in the Bible, found in Genesis 22: 17.
Inclusion seems to be defined in so many ways within today’s society—in the way we look at our society, in our sports, in our educational institutions, in our businesses, and even within our politics. Nevertheless, the most inclusive statement is SPOKEN BY THE SON of GOD, by JESUS HIMSELF—
“For God so loved the world,
(The Gospel According to John 3: 16 NASB)
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life.”
There is a Christian melody that I attempted & failed to play for my students last semester. Maybe you wonder why, and the truth is that oftentimes, technology just seems to allude my capabilities.
However, this same melody—“Jesus Does” by We The Kingdom is in my daily devotional plan (again) for the beginning of this new semester. I hope to overcome my technology woes and be more proactive, more ready, to share the Gospel message through song with my students. If you cannot remember the scenes, or the words, I encourage you today to pause and look on YouTube for the original recording of this Gospel song. Maybe this tool will serve you too in your witness as you go in Jesus’ name.
What do we do when the Holy Spirit allows interruptions into our day?
- Do we hang up on the Holy Spirit’s leading?
- Do we run the other way?
- Do we stop talking and begin praying, asking the Lord for the words to say?
- Do we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit, to share the Gospel message with another?
Do we answer the calling for which we have been called?
- Do we worship the Lord Jesus Christ for all that He has done for us?
- Do we lift our hands in worship, or do we keep them down by our side?
- Do we lift our voices in worship, or do we keep our mouth closed instead?
- Do we lift our praise in worship, or do we keep our salvation secret inside us?
The multitude standing before the throne of God—
“a great multitude which no one could count,
(The Revelation to John 7: 9b-10 NASB)
from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes,
and palm branches were in their hands;
and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Thus in closing, I leave us with the words of the apostle Paul who wrote these words in his letter, words of encouragement and of admonishment, to the young preacher Timothy, the one Paul was mentoring.
How Many Will Be There?
May we be found faithful in the commandment that Jesus our Savior has called us to share with those who do not yet believe in Him.
“Fight the good fight of faith;
(The 1st Letter of Paul to Timothy 6: 12-16 NASB)
take hold of the eternal life to which you were called,
and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you in the presence of God,
who gives life to all things,
and of Christ Jesus,
who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which He will bring about at the proper time—
He who is the blessed and only Sovereign,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light,
whom no man has seen or can see.
To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”