Jesus’ “In Crowd”

“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:23-24

Those who have submitted to Christ, the Jewish believers of ancient times who were before us and then us today, have been privileged to join the company of those who were the first to experience the love, mercy, and fellowship of the Lord.  These are the patriarchs, the prophets, the martyrs, and all those who believed in God’s promised Messiah, the way of salvation before Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.  Imagine being identified with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Daniel, and Paul.  I suppose one could call them the ultimate “in crowd”.

Most of us were never in the “in crowd” at school.  We didn’t meet their criteria of affluence, neighborhoods, cars, or looks–all superficial qualifications to be consider “worthy” to be include in their group.  However, believers belong to a much better “in crowd” that does not require superficial attributes in order to gain acceptance.  There is only one qualification, and anyone, regardless of race, color, social standing, or economic status can qualify if he or she is willing to turn from sin and place faith in Jesus Christ, making Him Lord of his or her life.  Even if the world excludes you and me, we can be accepted by the One who made the world.

There are many who have blazed the trail leaving a spiritual legacy and path to follow, and who have already entered into their rest awaiting us to join them.  It is all the saints of God who will return with Christ one day as He ushers in a world of peace unlike the world has ever known.  As the writer of Hebrews pointed out in verse one, we have a “great cloud of witnesses”, thus would it not behoove us to exemplify the same courage and determination to live for Christ as an honor to those who have gone before us and as a witness to those by whom we are surrounded.  While we are exceptionally blessed to be in the company of such notable saints and servants of the most high God, our privilege extends even further to fellowship with the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, God’s own Son.  He is the One who made us acceptable to God the Father.  Without Him and His sacrifice on the cross, we would all face an eternity in an awfully miserable place and permanent separation from God.  Sometimes I think that we don’t fully grasp what Christ did for us when He died and rose again on the third day.

If folks could stop thinking about themselves and begin to consider that this life on earth is only temporary, and that there is life beyond the grave in one of only two destinations, perhaps they would wake up to the fact that they will be held accountable by their Creator.  We see products advertised on television, billboards, and online which promise to change our lives.  While there are some products that might help in some small way to ease a burden or make us more comfortable, a man-made product cannot furnish the change that is needed by all people.  When a product is advertised to make our lives better, it is an admittance by the manufacturer that most people are discontent, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled.  It is a marketing gimmick to create a desire for the product, and one that plays on the desire for a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.  When the product fails to produce the desired outcome, or the new toy becomes just another item to discard, we are right back where we started.

For believers, God brings discontentment in this world in order that we will seek Him.  However, too few people are aware of their need for Christ.  God laid out His plan of salvation for all the world to see.  He has made every effort to show people the truth of His word and also warns of the consequences of rejecting the gospel.  People look for contentment and joy in all the wrong “in crowds”, wealth, power, prestige, fame, sex, and many other avenues.  Some still think that following God’s law will save them, but His law only shows them guilty.  The animal blood that was sprinkled in ancient times had to be repeated daily.  I can only imagine how messy that was, and the smell!  But these sacrifices could never remove the guilt of man’s sin; his accountability for his sin was only postponed.  God accepted those sacrifices made in sincerity as a temporary reprieve for man’s sin, and it was also symbolic of the sacrifice of His Son.  Abel’s sacrifice was accepted because it was offered in faith.  However, Jesus’ sacrifice is far greater than Abel’s because Abel’s sacrifice only covered himself temporarily while the blood of Christ covers the sins of the whole world permanently and for all eternity.  Considering all of these facts, why wouldn’t everyone want to be in Jesus’ “in crowd”?