December 29
December 29
As a child of God, you will one day stand blameless before the Lamb.
Can you imagine being blameless? Can you imagine being blameless in your marriage? Can you imagine your children knowing you as blameless? Can you imagine blameless friendships? Can you imagine living blamelessly at your university or your job? Can you imagine being blameless in every thought, desire, choice, and action? Most of us have come to accept that we will never be blameless in this life. When we’ve done something wrong, we are tempted to shift the blame to someone else, because sin still lives inside of us, exercising more power than we wish it did. Even when our intentions are righteous, we often stumble into sin. The sin within us is like spiritual gravity, pulling us down again and again. Yes, by grace we have the power to resist, but the war within still rages.
This is why the following scene is so beautiful and encouraging:
I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (Rev. 14:1–5)
This scene is almost too wonderful to grasp. As prophesied, the Lamb (Jesus) is standing in glory on Mount Zion, but he is not standing alone. There are 144,000 people standing with him, who have his name and the Father’s name written on their foreheads. The number 144,000 is not to be understood as a literal number; it symbolizes those who have been redeemed. The names written on their foreheads show to whom they belong. The scene isn’t quiet, because the redeemed are singing a song that only those who have been redeemed can sing. Calling these people virgins simply means they are pure. Rescued out of the mass of humanity, they now stand blameless before the victorious Lamb. God has accomplished all he promised through the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and reign of the Lamb. He has finally and completely delivered his children from sin, and they have been gathered with him on Mount Zion to celebrate with songs only redeemed sinners can sing. This is not a scene from a fantasy movie. One day you will join this joyous choir. May this hope fuel your faith as you continue to live in the midst of sin’s struggle.