“Worthy – worthy – worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”
Yesterday these words began to sound in my mind – all day – into the evening – at waking times through the night – and they continue to-day. I sing them persistently. I can’t remember anything else from that hymn. I have such a longing within me that I can’t stay in the present period of time. So I got into my time machine for another trip. (You are welcome to join me). I put the gear into reverse and began to travel back over 2000 years. As I travel I am singing over and over – worthy is the Lamb that was slain – with a sense of impending - ? – I don’t know what but I’m filled with longing.
Now I arrive at Calvary. The fiendish roar of the howling mob is deafening. Many of them are from out of town and have come to Jerusalem for Passover. They have no idea of what is taking place but follow blindly the program of the religious leaders. Soon they are caught up in mob violence on fire with blood-lust.
There is a great foreboding heaviness so I sing again - - worthy –worthy – worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Then I kneel at His Cross, at His feet which have been brutally nailed to the centre pole. His back has been torn to ribbons by the scourging. My heart is tortured by the thought of Him pushing His torn, bleeding, shredded flesh up against the rough timber of the upright beam in order to take a breath. His Life-Blood runs down from His head, His back, His hands, His feet - - runs down into the ground - - - the ground which was cursed thousands of years before because of Adam. Now Jesus is cursed because of me.
Unworthy, unworthy, unworthy am I, so unworthy
That I could never be redeemed – E X C E P T –
Worthy – worthy – worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
I find it incredible that Jesus is not screaming because of the unspeakable pain. But He says very little, is mostly silent. There is something else I can’t begin to fathom which explains the unbearable, crushing weight that keeps Him silent. His mental turmoil, inner anguish, torture is beyond words immeasurable and it spanned time and eternity.
Abandoned by God, deserted and left to be Satan’s target. Satan brought his full, unrelenting arsenal against Him.
(Pause – linger – don’t rush ahead.)
Through it all HE WAS FOUND WORTHY – worthy to be crucified, to be THE sin-offering, to pay in full the sin-debt of the whole world to satisfy God’s fierce wrath, to make it possible for God to forgive outrageous sinners and still remain holy. I’ll never be able to calculate the cost and the scope. He was found so completely worthy that He and He alone (Revelation 5:5) was worthy to break the seals and take back the title deed to this world. Worthy is the Lamb all the way from Creation, to Adam, to a star and Bethlehem, to triumph over temptation, to an upper room or a night of betrayal where broken bread symbolized His broken body and He gave thanks, to Gethsemane, to Calvary, in the midst of His anguish to grant salvation to a repentant dying thief, to build His church. So worthy – completely and totally worthy – that He and He alone is KING of kings and Lord of lords. Sing it with me,
Worthy – worthy – worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
I’m still kneeling at the Cross. I don’t want to leave. His cross has shown me, told me, reminded me, impressed upon me that I am not important – only Jesus Christ my Lord and Master is important.
On Christian radio I heard Dr. C. Swindoll say something along this line. We would all gladly line up for a chance to wash the feet of Jesus. I agree but I see something more. While I was at the Cross I received another facet to the jewel of WHO is important. When I take the lowest place in order to serve others (John 13:14) I am washing the precious, nail-pierced feet of Jesus. Remember what He said (Matthew 25:40) “You have done it unto Me.” Doesn’t that add heart-peace and radiance to the lowest place?
WARNING – These are the days of strange fire. Strange fire is worked-up, fleshly, emotional enthusiasm. It is disobedience which leads to the death of spiritual reality. It puts on a revolting, carnal display of the flesh and dares to call it worship. It can be very religious but God is missing – He is not there. INSTEAD OF obedience to the control and power of the Holy Spirit, where everything is done (1 Corinthians 14:40) decently and in order, which leads to the exaltation of Christ, Who is our life, being revealed in us.
When God set up the Aaronic priesthood, He sent fire from heaven (Leviticus 9:24) to consume the first offering to show His acceptance and this fire was to be (Leviticus 6:9) kept burning continually. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire, unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1) on God’s altar. Possibly (Leviticus 10:9) they were drunk. The fiery judgment of the Lord descended upon them – fire went forth from the Lord and killed them.
For the Church of Jesus Christ God has sent the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, lead and make plain the scriptures. But we see many preachers and televangelists who offer strange, false fire with alluring choices of various gospels. They have large audiences (not congregations) and huge incomes. Their willing victims are heading toward a lost eternity and unending torment.
There is the feel-good gospel - - everything you hear is so pleasant – nothing of Truth to disquiet or disturb you – just what you want to hear and it will really boost your ego.
The universal salvation gospel - - that because God is so loving there is no hell or judgment. This skillfully ignores the Cross of Christ and the reason and need for it.
The prosperity gospel - - promises everything you want in every aspect of your life. You are centre-stage, all-important and God is reduced to being a big blessing machine in the sky with nothing to do but fill your requests. It overlooks completely the cross of self-denial which is essential for discipleship. This is blasphemy and will not go unpunished.
The churchianity and good works gospel - - not Christianity. It grossly misinforms you that by church attendance, rites, rituals and good deeds you can earn salvation. An outright, blatant contradiction of the eternal Word of the living God. Our best deeds are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) before the Judge of all the earth. Salvation is God’s gift and is only received by personal choice (Ephesians 2:8) by faith alone in Christ alone through grace alone.
Don’t dare to think for one split second that Almighty Holy God will deal lightly (Galatians 1:8-9) with those who undermine the Cross and trample underfoot the Blood of Jesus. All these monstrous lies are strange fire – unauthorized fire – false fire. Satan loves the meetings where the various deceptive gospels are expounded because he is the cunning LIAR who fuels strange fire and his false prophets who offer it in the Name of God. The final destination of all the showboat, smooth talking, tools of the devil who pervert the sacred Truth of God and exchange it for a lie – will be when His eternal, fiery judgment descends upon them and they are (Revelation 19:20) hurled into the Lake of Fire.
“Worthy – worthy – worthy is the Lamb that was slain”
Worthy is the Lamb Who was sacrificed to receive (Revelation 5:12-13) power, riches, wisdom, honour, majesty, glory, splendour and blessing and dominion forever and ever through the eternities of the eternities.