Heaven's Seal Of Approval

E ENDORSEMENT

Heaven’s S*E*A*L not only suggests STATUS, it also implies ENDORSEMENT … Divine approval and acceptance.

The prodigal son not only helps us understand our status as it relates to identity. It also helps us get a grip on our approval … our acceptance by God. I know this is a hard one. We see our incompleteness, our failure, and our sin. God, however, sees us in Christ and knows what we are becoming and will become.

From the prodigal’s vantage point he was unworthy of being identified with His Father. But the Father had other ideas. Love covered a multitude of sins and grace restored the son’s relationship.

You need look no further than the end of John’s apocalypse to grasp this principle for yourself. There we learn that we will be Christ’s bride … spotless and blameless! Oh we will see in a few chapters (chapter 12) that there is one who wants to accuse you and discredit your worth but he is cast out of God’s presence and the one who stands on your behalf (Jesus Christ) gives you a ringing endorsement.

When you apply for certain positions or privileges in life the proper endorsement makes all the difference. If the right person calls in a favor on your behalf or vouches for you … you’re in. Well, there is one in heaven who is giving you a ringing endorsement. Listen to what the Bible tells us about Him in John 6:27; “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

You stand before God approved and endorsed because of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Nothing else will get you in the door. Nothing else will get you into God’s presence; but with Jesus … it’s as good as done!

Rejoice! God’s seal within you (Holy Spirit) is evidence that he accepts you. That he approves.

A ASSURANCE

Heaven’s S*E*A*L informs the cosmos of your STATUS. It comforts you with God’s ENDORSEMENT. And it provides you with an unswerving guarantee of ASSURANCE … Divine protection and security.

7:3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

Later, in 9:4 we read: 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

In Ephesians 4:30 we read, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

The Bible says elsewhere “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:22-23).

Do you recall the story in Nehemiah when he was granted permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city? Do you recall that Nehemiah was given safe passage through the land because he travelled with letters from King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2)?