My nephew, Michael, had a scary medical crisis this past weekend with very low glucose. As I was crying out to God for help, I recalled all His miracles in Michael’s life in the past. Also, we as a family had just reviewed some of our Revelation memory verses which helped me focus on Jesus’s attributes. He sees all, knows all, has all wisdom, has all power and saves us eternally!
We’re
still on this side of Heaven, awaiting complete fulfillment of our salvation.
However, the great multitude in Revelation 7 already finished their suffering
on earth and perfectly praised God and Jesus for their eternal salvation.
Revelation
7:9-12 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude
that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the
throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm
branches in their hands. 10 And
they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the
elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their
faces before the throne and worshiped God,12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
Have you
ever heard or sung the praise song – Salvation Belongs to Our God? It has a
catchy chorus “Be to our God, forever and ever, Amen.” (Several different
Christian singers and groups have recordings of it.) Well, the words to this
song (in bold above) come right out of Revelation 7!
The multitude in heaven, the angels, elders and four living
creatures used these words to praise God right after He sealed His servants
that were still living on earth (see last week’s devotional). So, the next time
you and I hear or sing this song, let’s remember that as followers of Jesus
Christ, we are also sealed for eternity. God has guaranteed our eternal
salvation through Jesus the Lamb, no matter what happens to us in this life.
I love how these words of praise are focused on God and His work
and not the singer. With their palm branches, they were celebrating victory - Jesus’s
victory over sin. Their white robes represented the forgiveness, cleansing and
righteousness Jesus gave. Their salvation and security rested on Jesus’s
power and work and not their own. Worthy is Jesus!!!