More than a title . . .

Sometimes when asked what I do or where I work, I mentally think: wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, mentor, child of God and more. Even though the person asking is thinking more about a career and less about titles, those titles describe what I do, even where I work.

Today, I’m thinking of the titles of my Lord, and the list is much longer than my list. Today’s devotional focuses on three of them by examining an Old Testament passage. It tells how the exiles came back to Jerusalem from Babylon and made Joshua the high priest. However, Zechariah the prophet spoke of another person using a term that refers to the promised Messiah. It was the ‘Branch’ who would be a priest forever.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to (those saved from exile in Babylon). (Zechariah 6:12–14)

Echoing the prophet’s words and other OT references, God’s people argued about Jesus. Some said, “This really is the Prophet,” referring to the One Moses said God would raise up after him, the One to whom the people must listen. They realized that Jesus is that Prophet.

The writer of Hebrews spoke of Jesus saying, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” also calling Him the great high priest of our confession, and who holds that office forever. (Hebrews 2:17 & 6:20) This writer realized that Jesus is also a Priest.

The Magi searched for the ‘king of the Jews’ the One who later came into the city of the King, humble, riding a donkey, the One whom Pilate recognized as King of the Jews, and His followers called, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is that King, the King of kings.

These titles also reveal what Jesus does. Prophets speak forth the Word of God. This Prophet Jesus IS the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among us. Priests mediate between God and man, man and God. This Priest lives forever to intercede for us and to take our prayers and needs before the throne of heaven. Kings rule over their kingdoms. This King rules an everlasting Kingdom, the Kingdom of light, truth, promised to those who love Him, a kingdom that cannot be shaken and He shall reign forever and ever!

In the end, when Jesus returns and His glory is seen, this new song will praise Him:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Around the throne, all living creatures, the elders, angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, will say with loud voices: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, will say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:9–14)

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, sometimes I have no words, just these from Your Word that declare Your glory. You are Prophet, Priest, and King. You are the Lamb who was slain. You are my Lord and my God, forever and ever loving and interceding for me, and for all Your people. Worship . . .  

Assurance of Eternal Life

Who will stand before the throne of God in honor rather than in judgment? Who will be saved rather than lost? Who will make it into eternity without guilt and condemnation? Can anyone know for sure? Or do most say, “I will have to wait and see if I’ve been good enough”?
 

My husband talked to a man last week who asked him, “How can anyone know for sure?” He was concerned about his eternal destiny and repeated this question several times. Part of the answer given was that the Bible says much about eternal life and how to have it, even how to know that you have it. This good news is stated plainly in verses like these, and assurance comes through believing them.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11–13)

My husband shared with this man that when he believed in Jesus Christ and received Him and the salvation He freely offers to those who believe, the Holy Spirit changed him. Part of that change is a deep assurance. He said, “Besides the affirmation of the Bible, I just know.”

Some Scripture passages are less obvious, yet imply details about eternal life and being sure of it. When I read these passages in Revelation this morning, I thought about the core of my assurance. It never is, nor can it ever be, based on myself or what I do. Salvation is always about Jesus.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9–12)

This is about worship in heaven, in eternity. A great crowd stands before God from every people-group in the world, every language. This says that salvation is not about Anglo-Saxons or denominations or specific groups. It is available to everyone and the way of salvation is the same for everyone.

Those who are standing before the throne and before Christ are dressed in white robes. This symbolizes their worth and status before God. I discovered that the Jews used to array priests who were approved for ministry in white robes. They served God by being declared blessed and spotless, yet the Bible is clear; no man is spotless. We must be forgiven, redeemed, justified, and cleansed through the sacrifice of Christ. Our robes of righteousness are never earned but imputed, put on us by the grace of God. 

This is why the angels, the elders and those who represent Christ, and the entire multitude are singing praises to God. The saved ones worship Him because they know their own merits have no value before this throne. They also know who gave them this blessed place. They had previously sang another song:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I (John, the writer of Revelation) looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:9–14)

Implied in this litany of praise is the reason a person can know they will live forever. None of those in this crowd are relying on their own belief system or performance. They stand there because they know that Jesus is worthy. To Him belongs all power and glory and worship. No one can pat themselves on the back and say, “I made it.” They know that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Pleasing God and eternal life are all about falling down on our knees before Jesus as Savior and Lord.

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Lord God, these days You have brought this truth to my heart again and again. I realize how deeply all people need to know Jesus and have the assurance of eternal life with You. The way to life seems so clear to me, only because You reveal such things to Your people by grace through faith. I know I’ve done nothing to merit this amazing revelation. Yet because of You, I can bow even now in worship at the wonder of the Father, the saving power of the Son Jesus Christ, and the gracious blessing of Holy Spirit. You assure me again and again of my eternal destiny as You declare that all glory concerning this amazing salvation belongs to You alone.