THE DIVINE SEAL

17 JUNE 2021

There is no reason for an unstable Christian life because in Christ Jesus, you are standing on a solid, firm foundation. Christ is a tested foundation Stone and when we are truly dedicated to this precious Stone, we stand firm in our Christian walk.

Reference: 2 Timothy 2:19 English Standard Version (ESV)

"But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.""

Beloved, God's truth stands firm as a foundation stone with this inscription: 'The LORD knows those who are his,' and 'All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.' Do you know what this means? First, in Isaiah 28:16 (NIV), The LORD God says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation..." As the chief cornerstone of our faith, Jesus ensures the stability of the entire system of our salvation. But there is a mystery surrounding the laying of this spiritual foundation stone called Christ. This mystery cannot be decoded or detected by the natural man or by intellect, but its real in the spirit realm.

The mystery is a divine seal engraved on God's firm foundation, Christ. Its an inscription cut or carved on the surface of the spiritual cornerstone. When we come to Christ, we integrally link or connect to God by this Stone in the sense of a personal relationship and oneness through our faith and by His grace. As we become established on God's firm foundation, the Spirit of God identifies with our spirit. As a result, an inner longing to work according to the dictates of God's will begins to well up in us. This longing enables us to develop true love for God because He now knows and acknowledges us as His own. No wonder 1 Corinthians 8:3 reads, "But if any person loves God, that person is known by God" (NCV).

John 10:14 also reads, "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me." Jesus is saying, "I'm your spiritual shepherd". He knows His own sheep and due to His extreme goodness and concern, He knows every detail about those for whom He cares. He also knows those who are not His own even when they claim to be so. That's the reason, in His ministry's era, He criticized the hypocritical and self-serving religious people who claimed to know and serve God but their hearts were far from pleasing God.

In Galatians 4:9, Paul wrote to the Galatian Christians saying, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?" He admonished the Galatians, who prior to becoming Christians were enslaved to idols, and soon after getting saved, were inclined to being enslaved again, by meticulously observing the Jewish calendar rituals.

Beloved, if Paul as an apostle and true Christian leader was able to detect that the Galatian Christian were straying from God to weak and worthless elements, how much more God who sees the hearts of men and judges rightly? (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV). The Lord knows those who are truly His and this inscription is clearly embedded on the firm foundation. According to our referenced Scripture, "God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.""

Paul affirmed that God knows those who truly believe in Christ and live accordingly. In other words, there are damaging consequences of condoning iniquity while claiming to belong to Christ. This means we are not living true to our nature and calling in Christ. One of these consequences is that we are deceiving ourselves. This is noted in James 1:22 (KJV) as: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Deceiving one's self is more of an inner character, which points to an intentional twisting of a given standard. This means that God's firm foundation, bearing a seal or inscription detects the untrue and unfaithful Christians. However God's mercy endures in the sense that the latter part of the inscription gives the unfaithful an opportunity to redress their steps. Therefore, let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 1:6; Isaiah 28:16; Luke 13:27; 1 Corinthians 1:2.

Exuberant Declaration:

My Christian life is grounded on God's firm foundation and I'm intimately connected to irrevocable divine purpose. Trusting in God and walking in His truth build my faith and ensure my stability in Christ. Sin and iniquity have no dominion over me, as I continually walk in righteousness and maintain my fellowship with Christ. Hallelujah!