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Tag: Ambassadors of Jesus Christ

Worthy – The Savior’s, Sinner’s and Saint’s position

Recently, while listening on the radio, the song “When the stars burn down (Blessing and Honor)” by Philips, Craig & Dean, I started describing to Reuben, our beloved six year old son, that it is highly likely that the song is based on the events that transpire in heaven as described in book the Revelation in the Bible. Revelation chapter 5 records the account of how Jesus, the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei), who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29), was the only one, worthy to open the book that was sealed and in the hands of God who sat on the throne. Jesus takes the book from the hand of God and the 24 elders that sat around him fell down and worshiped him.

Points to ponder:
The Savior’s position before a Holy God is “Worthy; Only He is Worthy” (Revelation 5:9,12).
The sinner’s (our) position before a Holy God is “NOT Worthy” (Genesis 32:10).
And when we believe in the worthiness of Jesus Christ for he has prevailed in being the acceptable sacrifice of God (Hebrews 10:10-12), we are imputed his righteousness (Romans 4:24; James 2:23) and changed from sinners to saints.
The saint’s position before a Holy God is “To Walk Worthy” (Ephesians 4:1).
As saints, we are called to be ambassadors of him (2 Corinthians 5:20), declaring his worthiness and commanded to Walk Worthy of his calling.

Ascribing one’s worth by honoring and giving glory is to worship and we ought to ascribe to Jesus, The Savior, his worth.
In other words, we ought to worship Jesus because we are NOT worthy and only He is Worthy and we can worship him by our walking worthily, in Him (Ephesians 5:8).
Are we?

Revelation 5:1-14 (KJV)
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Genesis 32:10 (KJV)
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; …

Ephesians 4:1-3 (KJV)
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

God’s relay race

During my high school years, I used to be actively involved in athletics and competed in several inter-school competitions. One of the events that our school team used to arduously practice for, was the relay race in which the starter sprinters ran till they passed the baton over to the next on track, until it reached the last one (anchor) in the relay race lineup that completed the race. I often used to run the anchor position.

In order for the relay team to win, there was one requirement, the anchor had to be holding the baton in his/her hand when the tape was cut. It was not the one who first cut the tape that won the race, but it was the one who cut the tape, holding the baton in hand. Holding on to the baton was what mattered. Additionally, it was not the anchor alone who won the race, but the whole team that received the honor and prize.

Just as it was important for each participant in a relay race to hold on to the baton, when it is in their possession and pass it on to the next one in the track, so also in our Christian race, we must hold on to the Gospel baton (i.e., keep the faith) and pass it on to our successors (our children being one in that lineup among many other) so that collectively we can win in achieving the goal of reconciling man to God, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The God of the universe passed the Gospel of Salvation baton to His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who passed this Gospel baton to us, when He ascended into Heaven and till our time on earth is done or till He returns to take us, who believe in Him, to be with Him for eternity, we must continue to hold on to the Gospel baton (keep the faith) and pass it on (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Let us live in such a manner so that each of us will be able to say, when it is God’s appointed time, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7).

2 Corinthian 5:18-20 (KJV)
18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [God passed the baton to Christ]
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Christ has passed the baton to us]
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [We must pass the baton to others]

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