The Redeemed of the Lord

  The Gospel call is not to a trouble-free road.   This is why Peter said, ?We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God?.   Also Jesus said that those who endeavour to follow him must be prepared to deny themselves by carrying their own cross.   The cross here is a symbol of trouble or problems.   Yes, indeed, the cross must come before the crown.

  As gold is tried by fire, so the test of tribulation for those who are being visited by God ?in order to take out of them a people for His name?.   To take out of them a people for His name, may echo the words that ?many are called but few are chosen?.   These chosen few will in the end result in a great multitude due to the fact that ?He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other? (Matthew 24:31).

  In Revelation 7:13-17 one of the elders had this to say to John in a vision, ?Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from??   John said, ?Sir, you know?.   And then the elder said to him, ?These are the ones who came out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.   Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.   And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.   They shall neither hunger any more nor thirst any more.   The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.   And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes?.   In other words, these are the ones who have overcome the world by their faith in God and have been redeemed by their Lord.

Bro. Sylvester Tembo (Mzuzu, Malawi)