We recently read in Ezekiel when in a vision the Lord commanded a man clothed in linen to "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." After him, others followed to execute everyone who did not have the mark of God on their foreheads. In Revelations the well known mark of the beast is mentioned in chapter 13, and the seal of God in chapter 7.
Many books and articles have been written speculating about the mark of the beast and the seal of God, but what really matters to me is that God's name is written on my forehead: in my thoughts, in my speech, and in my heart.
1 John 4 says: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.."
Some people have the mark of this world on their lives. They can't think or talk about anything other than this world. Several years ago I was in a church eating delicious homemade pie with all the other attendees after a concert and was quite surprised to overhear a few elderly gentlemen talking about their last trip to the bar!
We need to be just the opposite. We need to have the seal of God so much on our lives that our every thought honors Him. We need to confess Him before men, so that people can't help but notice we are Christians.
We need His presence and power with us so mightily that it's unmistakable. We need His Spirit in us so that we will hate the wickedness and abominations that he hates. We need His love to cry out for the souls that are perishing in sin. The desire of our hearts must be to do His will.
We need daily communion with our Savior, so that on the Judgment Day he will recognize us and say, "Come ye blessed of my Father into the kingdom prepared for you." It will be a sad day for those to whom he says, "Sorry, I never knew you."
Know the Lord Jesus as your Father and your best friend. Let God place His mark upon your life. Stand against all wickedness. We must be living testaments of the great work of Jesus Christ.
1 John 4 says: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.."
Some people have the mark of this world on their lives. They can't think or talk about anything other than this world. Several years ago I was in a church eating delicious homemade pie with all the other attendees after a concert and was quite surprised to overhear a few elderly gentlemen talking about their last trip to the bar!
We need to be just the opposite. We need to have the seal of God so much on our lives that our every thought honors Him. We need to confess Him before men, so that people can't help but notice we are Christians.
We need His presence and power with us so mightily that it's unmistakable. We need His Spirit in us so that we will hate the wickedness and abominations that he hates. We need His love to cry out for the souls that are perishing in sin. The desire of our hearts must be to do His will.
We need daily communion with our Savior, so that on the Judgment Day he will recognize us and say, "Come ye blessed of my Father into the kingdom prepared for you." It will be a sad day for those to whom he says, "Sorry, I never knew you."
Know the Lord Jesus as your Father and your best friend. Let God place His mark upon your life. Stand against all wickedness. We must be living testaments of the great work of Jesus Christ.
This is so true - thanks for sharing, Bethany. :)
ReplyDelete