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The 144,000
They are
Servants of God
Key Two
But now being made free from sin, and become
servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:22
Perhaps the least understood aspect of
the Christian life is that of being a servant. As little children, many of us
enjoyed the process of serving. We felt a sense of personal pride in being able
to help Mom or Dad. However, as we matured, many of us became jaded as a result
of our modern, materialistic society.
As a consequence, many adults today view serving as foolish,
unsophisticated, or even demeaning. They carry a mental image of a servant as an
individual with a broken spirit—lacking strong will, self esteem or sense of
purpose. Servants are often regarded much like an old mule trudging through life
without meaning, dignity or sense of destiny.
Absolutely nothing could be further from the truth! When
properly understood, being a servant is one of man’s highest aspirations. If we
were to question Jesus Christ, “What is the best we can be?” He would most
likely say, “A servant, of course.”
The Source of Serving Self
There was a time when serving was the only recognized way of
life. The physical universe did not yet exist. Only heaven existed, populated by
God and the angelic beings which He created. These angels were designed to enjoy
God’s way of life, and were intended to later serve mankind (Hebrews 1:14).
Lucifer was a leader among the angels, however, at some point
after the creation of the physical universe, he decided that he would no longer
serve God or His purpose. Instead, this former being-of-light decided that he
wanted to be served rather than serve—to compete rather than cooperate. God
actually reveals Lucifer’s thoughts as he executed his rebellion against the
Almighty. In his mind, Lucifer said:
I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High (Isaiah 14:13-12).
This beautiful and powerful spirit being influenced one-third
of the angels to follow him in a rebellion against God. War in heaven ensued,
and the effects of this revolt are still apparent. The destructive forces
unleashed by Lucifer’s insurrection are indelibly written in the heavens for all
of mankind to see.
As scientists probe the depths of outer space, their modern
telescopes find shattered moons, asteroids and dust where beautiful planets once
existed. They observe massive black holes consuming everything around them,
including light itself. This incredible devastation reflects the angelic
resistance that culminated in all out war against God and His way of life.
Cast down to earth, the influence of Satan and his demons now
pervades the planet. The power and impact of this evil being is such that
Scriptures refer to him as the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4). Satan now
sways the leaders of the world to act in accord with his values. Instead of
ministering to citizens of their nations, tyrants such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph
Stalin, and Saddam Hussein have abused their people to serve their own
ambitions.
Because of Satan’s influence, the resources of entire
countries have been exploited— virtually raped for the benefit of the few, while
the poor have languished. This story has been written in a river of blood as man
has continually waged war to gain ever more power for himself.
The great swirling galaxies in the heavens, each empire that
has come and gone on this earth, and every individual who has ever lived—all
have felt the influence of the devil. The whole of physical creation reflects
this fact. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles writes:
The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. . . (Romans 1:20).
According to this verse, the invisible world of spirit can be
understood by observing the physical. Within this context, consider the cells
making up the human body. The harmonious existence of the cells in the body
pictures how God intended man to live together in harmony within His Church—the
body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:4-27). Each cell is designed to serve the
body’s requirements. Their job is to retain the nutrients the body ingests and
then release them on demand in the form of energy when the body needs them.
Just as the body’s healthy cells picture God’s way of working
together in unity and mutual cooperation, diseases such as cancer portray
Satan’s way. Cancer cells take the nutrients that the body provides, but refuse
to surrender them when needed. Instead of serving the body, these rebel cells
make war on the body, growing ever larger, and taking all they can for
themselves. Eventually, they drain the life from the body, killing both the host
and themselves.
Likewise, many in our modern world live to take all they can
for themselves. As a consequence of Satan’s influence on modern society, many
find the notion of being a servant abhorrent. Consider the Apostle Paul’s
depiction of our end time culture:
This know also, that in the last days, perilous time shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy . . . heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (II Timothy 3:1-3).
Our modern society reflects a
philosophy in which each person puts himself first. With each individual looking
out exclusively for his own welfare, our culture has become one in which it is
accepted—even expected—that people use others for their own gain. It is no
wonder that book titles such as Looking Out For Number One have found their way
to the top of the bestseller lists. One modern magazine even carries the short,
but powerful title called Self.
When we take a hard look at our world, it is obvious that we
have adopted Satan’s self-serving ways, but it will not always be like this. God
is preparing a people who believe that serving others is the highest calling of
all. God will eventually use these people to restore the way of service to
humanity.
The 144,000
are Champions of Service
The 144,000 are servants! They have the distinction and honor
of being called “servants of God.” The Apostle John records the words of the
angel to say:
Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads (Revelation 7:3).
True Christians are called servants. Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and all the great men and women of the Bible were called “servants of God.” In the New Testament, the Greek word for “servant” is “doulos,” meaning a slave or one in subjection to another, and this is the very word that Paul uses to describe the greatest servant of all—Jesus Christ. He writes:
(Jesus) Made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).
The Example of
Jesus Christ
On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus kept His last Passover
with His disciples. As they sat down to eat, the disciples began arguing among
themselves who should be the greatest. This was not the first time the disciples
had engaged in arguments concerning self-promotion. For example, James and John
once enlisted the help of their mother to ask Jesus if they could sit at His
side in the Kingdom (Matthew 20:21).
Imagine how disheartening this must have been to Jesus during
His final hours. Nevertheless, He used this dispute to teach a profound lesson
about greatness. Jesus explained:
The kings of the gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth (Luke 22:25-27).
After speaking these words, Jesus girded Himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, kneeled before His own disciples, and washed their feet. Christ explains that His followers should emulate His example:
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you (John 13:13-16).
The act of washing the disciples’
feet spoke volumes about God’s view of greatness. While man might view the great
and powerful as those who ARE SERVED, God sees those WHO SERVE OTHERS as the
greatest.
Jesus’ entire life was dedicated to serving His Father and
mankind. Perhaps the most graphic demonstration of Jesus’ submission to the will
of the Father, and His willingness to serve, was evidenced on the eve of His
crucifixion.
While in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed with
intensely that if it were possible His Father would remove the cup containing
the horror of His impending crucifixion. But even when faced with incredible
suffering, Christ expressed the mind of a servant, stating, “Not My will, but
Thine be done (Luke 22:42). He laid down His life to reconcile man to the Father
(Romans 5:10).
Jesus Christ was the perfect example of a faithful servant.
Far from being a life without dignity or purpose, His life has profoundly
affected the entire world. In his book, Improving Your Serve, Charles Swindol
writes:
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built; all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life (p. 160).
Jesus Christ was called the servant
of God, and those who follow in His footsteps are also called God’s servants.
The 144,000 understand that serving is the Eternal’s way of life, and they have
dedicated themselves to serving both God and man.
What is Required of Servants?
The Bible states that a servant is one who is in subjection
and obedient to someone or something more powerful than themselves. Being a
servant implies humility and dependence upon one who is greater. The Apostle
Paul illustrates this principle, writing to the Romans:
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)
Obedience is a critical factor. A
servant of God is one who obeys God’s law, and submits to the Almighty’s
authority in his or her life. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is God’s
servant. Many who claim the title of Christian do so in word only—not in deed.
Far too many people, calling themselves Christian, have been
deceived by the clever spin that Satan puts on God’s truth. They have been
misled by the false teaching that works are not required for salvation, and that
God only requires accepting Jesus in one’s heart. Warning against this kind of
fallacy, the Apostle John writes:
Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him (1 John 2:3-5).
In order to be a part of God’s
Kingdom, a person must be willing to submit to the authority of God’s law. Those
described by John as “the servants of our God” are those who are obedient to
Him, and who keep His law. They know, and live by God’s code of conduct as
revealed in the Ten Commandments.
More than the Letter of the Law
Obedience goes much further than the letter of the law,
however. Once one grasps what it means to be a servant, one’s whole perspective
changes. A true Christian understands that his life is not his own. Christ
bought and purchased us with His life. Paul writes:
Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
Realizing that they belong to the
Almighty, God’s servants strive to obey His will in every aspect of life. In the
daily decisions they make, they continually ask, “What is God’s will?” They seek
to submit to the Almighty in what they say, what they do, what they eat, and
even what they watch on TV or in the movies.
There is no reluctance on their part when they submit to
God’s law. Rather they love His law, and make a real effort to understand its
intent and to apply it in every situation. The servants of God understand that
everything belongs to God.
They realize that they are merely stewards of what belongs to
God. They value and maintain the physical things that God has committed to them.
The servant makes decisions on what to purchase with the money God gives them,
realizing that it is actually His money and it is only temporarily entrusted to
human care.
A servant also understands that his time and talents belong
to God. God has given each person his or her various abilities, as well as
twenty-four hours every day in which to use them. We are not to use that time
and talent for ourselves alone.
Instead, we should use each day to worship God in the way we
live that day.
At work we should be serving God, as well as our employer.
Socially, we give our time and talents to help all of God’s children, and
especially those who are less privileged. It is in this way that we fulfill
God’s law of love (James 2:8).
God’s Servants Work
As servants of God, the 144,000 perform God’s work. Jesus
once told His disciples, “I must do the work of Him that sent Me” (John 9:4).
Earlier, Jesus said that He must do the will of the Father, and “finish His
work” (John 4:34).
Jesus had a work to perform. That work was multifaceted. It
included revealing the Father (Matthew 11:27), preaching the gospel of the
Kingdom (Luke 4:43), establishing His Church (Matthew 16:18), calling sinners to
repentance (Luke 5:32), confirming the promises made to the fathers
(Romans15:8), and redeeming man from the consequences of sin (1 John 3:5).
These are just some things Jesus was commissioned to perform,
as He did the will and the work of His Father. In like manner, striving to
follow Christ, the 144,000 also do a work for the Almighty God.
Jesus Leaves a Work for His Followers
Jesus finished the work that the Father gave Him to do. While
praying, shortly before His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus
proclaimed:
I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do (John 17:4).
Before Jesus died on the stake, as
He commended His spirit to God, Jesus’ last utterance was, “It is finished”
(John 19:30). With these few but powerful words, Jesus Christ declared that He
had successfully completed the work that His Father had given Him.
Jesus finished the work that He was commissioned to do. Then,
He left a work that was to be done by His apostles and all of those who would
follow later. That work was to continue until the very day of His return, and
Jesus said that His servants would be blessed if they were found doing this word
when He returned (Luke 12:43).
A Two-Fold Commission
The Scriptures reveal a two-fold work that Jesus gives His
disciples to perform. The first mission is to preach the gospel of the Kingdom
as a witness to all nations. So important is this task that Jesus declares the
Kingdom of God will not be restored on earth until it is completed:
This gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).
God’s servants have proclaimed His Kingdom from the beginning and they continue
to this very day. This aspect of the work of God’s Church will culminate with
the appearance of two witnesses. These will have great power as they testify to
all the nations on earth (Revelation 11:3-6).
Feed My Sheep
The second commission concerns the nurturing of God’s
children. Christ reminded Peter of the work ahead:
Lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).
With the words “Feed My sheep,”
Jesus announced the second great commission given to His New Testament Church.
His servants were to spiritually feed and nurture those individuals who the
Father would call into His Church. The importance of this aspect of God’s work
cannot be overstated. All of God’s people need to be nourished to sustain them
in their daily walk.
When writing to the Church at Rome, the Apostle Paul said, “Faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” (Romans 10:17). This is why God
established a ministry: To “edify the saints”—to faithfully teach God’s way of
life by word and example. The ministers are to encourage and correct God’s
people. They are to build the faith of God’s people. By feeding Jesus’ sheep,
the ministry helps prepare Church members for the future Kingdom of God.
How Do They Serve?
It is not only the leaders of God’s people who are called
“servants of our God.” God’s entire Kingdom is made up of servants. His desire
is to develop a servant family, therefore God designed the structure of His
Church to reflect this institution. In this way, each of His children would
profoundly affect one another, and learn to serve others.
True servants also seize opportunities to advance the cause
of God’s Kingdom. While some preach the gospel as a witness, others finance that
gospel message through their tithes and offerings. Some anoint the sick, while
others pray for the sick and offer words of encouragement. Some teach, and
others visit widows and orphans.
Service toward one another makes it possible for every one of
God’s children to practice His way of life. Those who are counted among the
144,000 are able to identify opportunities to serve others, and in so doing,
they reflect the attitude of service that God always intended for mankind.
Servants of Our God
God is going to establish His Kingdom here on the earth. When
He does, His Kingdom will not be ruled by tyrants who use others for their own
selfish purposes. Instead, the leaders will be servants of God and helpers of
mankind.
Those who are counted among the 144,000 are those who have
voluntarily surrendered their will to God. Those in this esteemed company love
God’s law, and obey His commandments. They are true servants of God, and they
have dedicated their lives to living the way God would have them live, making
decisions as He would, and giving to others of their God given time and talents.
The 144,000 are dedicated to finishing the work God has given
them. They have the heart of a servant, seek not their own honor, and esteem
others greater than themselves. They follow the example of Jesus Christ as the
perfect servant. Therefore, they see their role as a position of great honor.
They are not only servants now, but aspire to be servants in the world to come.
This is why God has chosen them. He is looking for those who have developed the
mind of a servant to help Him serve humanity in the future Kingdom. The 144,000
are a precise number that God has called for this purpose.