Friday, June 28, 2013
Revelation 7:14 These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
THE FINAL OUTCOME
I once lived in a state where the Sunday football games started at 11:00 am. I didn't get back home from church until half-time. Since I didn't want to miss any part of the game, I'd set my VCR and record it. Then I'd wait until the game was over to watch the whole thing at one sitting, giving strict orders to the family not to let me know the final outcome. But sometimes the cat got out of the bag. I remember how different it was to watch my team play when I knew ahead of time that they'd already won. They might make stupid penalties or throw away scoring opportunities, but I didn't care. I could laugh at all their blunders because I knew they'd already triumphed.
Wouldn't it be great if we could fast forward to the end and see ourselves as winners in life? The fact is, for the believer in Christ, we can. Go back to our verse. God's saints are coming out of the "great tribulation." The great tribulation is life in this sin wrecked world, with all of its problems, its hatred against God's people, its threat of danger and death hanging over our heads. See yourself in that number, as one by one the saints go marching in! What a glorious final outcome -- a LIFE where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain!
But how can you be sure you won't end up a big loser in the fiery pit of hell? You can be sure you won't because your robe has been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb! Jesus has already won! His life, death, and resurrection have won the victory for all sinners. With God-given faith you've put on the victory coat of His perfect righteousness. Yes, we blunder into one sin after another. We throw away opportunities to witness. We are burdened by daily problems, and feel the stress of the world's hatred towards Christ's followers. But let out a big laugh! Go ahead LOL! God is with us through this life, and in Christ we have a final and eternal victory!
