Pure in Heart and Mind | Daily Devotion
“Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.
3 This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. 5 They have told no lies; they are without blame.
Revelation 14:1-5 NLT
John tells us He sees Jesus Christ, the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, the city of Jerusalem, and with him were the 144,000.
The 144,000 evangelists are redeemed Jews who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the Tribulation. They are pure, spiritually undefiled saints who choose to resist all of the crazy immoral temptations rampant throughout the world—Revelation 14:4. They are blameless, speaking truth with no deceit found in their mouth—Revelation 14:5. They are pure in heart and mind. And their impact during the Tribulation is great as they reach many in the name of Jesus, using their spiritual gifts for God’s glory.
Lives are saved. People meet Jesus Christ through them. God is glorified!
See, there are many benefits to living a pure life. If you choose to not play with the world’s temptations, you will be able to speak with authority with a witness that matches God’s Word. Your voice will impact others for Jesus Christ because people will know that you speak with integrity. People will realize your genuine heart. They will see your pure love for God and for people. Many will be able to identify the truth that you do not have a hidden agenda and are not trying to manipulate them or enact some evil scheme against them.
People can trust Christians who seek to live out God’s word, living pure lives, and so often it is trust in an evil world that draws people to Jesus Christ desiring to know Him because it’s so rare.
However, if you choose to live immorally your voice loses all credibility as people see you don’t practice what you preach. It is easy to point a finger at others and tell them what to do, it is easy to expound upon truths, it is easy to regurgitate what others are saying – but your actions reveal who you are, illustrating your character. Your actions reveal your unspoken desires.
Every day we are given 24 hours and how we choose to live those 24 hours is telling of our heart and mind. The lists we make are telling of our desires as well as our priorities, both detailing the heart’s desire to be able to take care of what we need to as wise stewards of God’s gift of life.
Christian, do you want to be a tool that God can use to reach the lost—2 Timothy 2:21? Do you want to encourage the downhearted, breathe hope into the suffering, and bring laughter to the timid? Then choose today to walk in purity, fleeing immorality—2 Timothy 2:22. Say no to sin, and yes to Jesus Christ with what is before you.
Today, immorality is common. It is easy. It cheapens people. While someone seeking to obey Jesus Christ, living a pure life, holds Christ’s value.
John tells us that the seal on the foreheads of these 144,000 is God’s name—Revelation 14:1. God is on the minds of the pure! He is their focus. They follow Jesus wherever He goes, simply wanting to be in His presence—Revelation 14:4, Psalm 16:11. In real time, this looks like those who seek Jesus for guidance, delighting in the Lord, simply desiring to do the will of the Father, knowing that obedience to the Lord’s voice keeps one in His presence.
These 144,000 Jews delight in Christ and are loyal to Him no matter the cost—Luke 9:23. And they sing a song of redemption that no other can sing—Revelation 14:3. Imagine that! A song no one else can learn to sing, as these 144,000 redeemed earned the privilege of these lyrics by the way they lived.
John sees these 144,000 people who have been redeemed from the earth, having accomplished the will of the Father, and says, “They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb” – Revelation 14:4 NLT.
The redeemed are set apart, they are a special offering to God, a first fruit – and in heaven only they can sing a special song of redemption.
These details however, do not imply that these redeemed are more worthy than any other Christian walking the earth during the Tribulation or prior – the details simply reveal how God has designed our lives differently, given us different callings, and a different purpose in His plan of redemption and in advancing His kingdom.
If God calls people to overseas missions, He is not saying they are more worthy than a school teacher here in the states for that itself is a mission field, reaching students with the love of Jesus Christ. If God calls one to pastor, and another to sales – He is not stating one calling is superior; for yes, the pastor focuses more on people training them in the ways of the Lord, however it is the salesman who makes the money to fund the church. If it is their calling, both will love what they do. They will be moving in their sweet spot. God places us where we will be most effective for Him and His glory as we shine the light of Jesus Christ right where He places us.
We live in a world filled with social comparison. It’s a heavy spiritual sway, unless people have God given conviction, looking to Christ alone. This spiritual sway pulls people to focusing on self while looking at others, all the while desiring fame and glory so that others will highly esteem them and think they are worthy. They believe this is the way they will be set apart. But it lacks knowledge of Jesus Christ, and lacks looking to Jesus for His affirmation of our faith.
Social comparison heightens pride and reveals weak psyche, as people either compare themselves to someone they deem superior to then feel “bad” about themselves, or they compare themselves to someone they deem inferior so that they feel better about themselves. Both are prideful. Social comparison will never help in consistent confidence. Only Jesus Christ will as we live God dependent lives, seeking Him.
As Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of every Christian’s faith, we need to realize the beauty in Him foreknowing our days before we were born. He called us to a specific work for His glory, just as He has called others to a specific work for His glory. This is all a part of His plan of redemption and furthering His Kingdom. Coveting others work will never bring personal satisfaction, reveals our lack of knowledge of God and lack of understanding of God and how He orchestrates our life and it might break us psychologically and weaken people spiritually since they will not be able to handle the spiritual weight of the work God has called someone else to – for Jesus Christ gives the strength, knowledge, and wisdom for the work He has called us to.
Like every Christian walking this earth, these 144,000 will read Ephesians 2:10 NLT that says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
They will seek God and hear Him say, “Remain pure;” as this is key to their calling. They will be given the same freewill as everyone else, with the choice to sin or not to sin in this way. But for this specific calling, God requires them to be pure and focused on Him. For some that might sound legalistic, but it’s not legalistic to the ones called to it.
Plain and simple, these Christians speak truth and their lives are above approach!
Will you pray with me?
Abba, thank You for the example of the 144,000 who focus on You. Lord, please help us all to focus on You today, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
