The urgent necessity to seek salvation

What will enable us to stand in that glorious assembly? Well, the angel answered John a few verses later in Revelation 7:9–10. He said that this is what makes them who they are: They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Have you done that? Have you come to the Lord Jesus through faith? Have you confessed the guilt of your sin—not just that you are a sinner, but that you justly deserve God’s condemnation? Have you looked at the cross, where alone you will find salvation, and committed yourself in faith to the Lord Jesus? You see why Paul was so zealous that the Thessalonians would stand through faith in Jesus. It is the only way we will triumph through this wicked world amidst these afflictions. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ? Well, if you have not, you have no hope of standing. Even in this present age, sooner or later you will be made to fall. You are not strong enough. You have an enemy who hates you as well. But far more importantly, you will have no standing—you will have no right to join this assembly of glory in the age to come.

On the other hand, if you have trusted in Christ, and if you continue to trust in him, well then, you should stand in such a way that you resolve, Whatever is true of me, I’m not going to serve Satan. I’m not going to dabble in the ways of sin. I’m going to trust the Lord. I’m going to make use of the means of grace: the Word, prayer. I’m going to be in the church. You know, you can only backslide so far in six days. That is part of the great value of coming together. So resolve, I’m going to play to win. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m not just going to play the game—I’m going to play the game to win. As a Christian man, as a Christian woman, I understand that I am not the Saviour—I am the saved. But why shouldn’t I be used in a mighty way? Why shouldn’t I live as one who looks forward to how my life is going to yield a crown of glory that the Lord Jesus is going to place upon his head? Indeed, we are together that crown of glory, with great joy, that Jesus will delight to wear with great glory to himself. And then, when all the trials of this life are done—at the time of God’s appointing, not ours—this will be true of us: They are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore. The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.¹

Richard D. Phillips