My Christian friend,

May I ask you, how high do you wish to rise in Christ? That is, how good of a Christian do you want to be? A. W. Tozer said we all have as much of God as we want. I would add, we all will rise as high in Christ as we want. So, the question comes to mind, do you, do I, want to be a mediocre Christian? Or a special Christian?

The word "special" has several meanings. For instance, it means "other than the usual." We know what a normal or usual Christian looks like in our day. Is that what we want?

Special also means "readily distinguishable from others in the same category." Do we want to be distinguished? Or merely to blend in, or conform, so completely that nothing stands out about us? We are just the same as all our peers.

Special furthermore means "held in particular esteem." Do we want others to hold us in esteem, that is, recognition or honor? Or be a believer who cannot be held in esteem for any particular quality, achievement, or labor?

Special also means "one that is used for a special purpose or service." Do we want to qualify for some kind of special purpose or use? Or are we content to not be very useful—except for hindering the useful?!

Special means additionally "distinguished by some unusual quality . . . being in some way superior." To think or speak of ourselves as superior would make us guilty of mankind's worst sin: pride! But to be superior, to be of higher quality, value, and fruitfulness than our peers, that is not sin. Joseph, Daniel, and Joshua are proof of that. They were clearly superior to their Jewish peers in so many ways - godliness, abandoned faith, overcoming adversity, spiritual maturity, humility, courage, wisdom, giftedness, and so on - yet did not harbor the slightest thoughts of superiority or speak of themselves and their gifts boastfully. And one more thought needs mentioning.

If we want to be special in the eyes of men, we err through pride. The desire to lift ourselves above our peers is prideful ambition and has caused millions to become just the opposite: less than their peers! In the kingdom of God, lusting for higher positions leads only to one humbling end: lower positions! Jesus said it best: "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and [or but] he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). In whose eyes, then, should we wish to be seen as special?

Christ's! And Christ's alone! To seek His loving approval, not for salvation but for greater intimacy with Him, deeper insight into His purposes and plan, more power from Him to be a greater blessing to His people, and more opportunities to minister to them, ahh, this is our great life-purpose! We should want to be special, not mediocre, in Christ's eyes.

The 144,000 Jews of the Tribulation will be that, and more. They will be special. Especially special! Superior to superiors! Greater than the great! In heaven, we will all stand in awe at the awesome works our awesome God will accomplish in them and through them. Let’s take a few moments to carefully consider the record John gave of them in His apocalypse.

In Revelation 7:1-18 and 14:1-6, we find the 144,000 are:

• Specially chosen – “of all the twelve tribes” of Israel’s millions, only         144,000 will be chosen for this special service (7:4)

• Specially devoted – “Virgins . . . not defiled with women,” they will       give up the pleasures of marriage to give special pleasure to the Lamb by

pursuing His goals alone (14:4).

• Specially sealed – They were all “sealed” with “the seal of the living God” – showing divine ownership, workmanship, approval, and          commissioning – in their foreheads (7:2-3).

• Specially anointed – Their “seal” was the Holy Spirit in His fullness,

given for special service.

• Specially guided – They will “follow the Lamb wherever” He goes in

divine guidance (14:4).

• Specially separated – By “follow[ing] the Lamb” they separate

themselves from those who will not follow Him; and they will sing a

song no one else can sing (14:3-4).

• Specially gifted – They are gifted musicians, playing “harps” and

singing “songs” given them by the Lord (14:2-3).

• Specially successful – Their ministry will bring in the greatest harvest

of Jews and Gentiles in Israel’s long history, and in the shortest time (7:9-18).

• Specially focused – God marks His “name,” on their “foreheads,”

indicating that their minds are given to, or focused on, God’s thoughts

and plans exclusively (14:1).

• Specially pure – They are “not defiled” with women and their speech is

“without guile,” or falsehood (14:4, 5).

• Specially mature – They are “without fault,” or without consistent sins

or flaws, and thus are mature or fully developed and Christlike in their

walk with God (14:5)

• Specially privileged – Christ makes a personal appearance just to

escort them from earth to heaven (14:1, 2). (1 Sam. 2:30; Acts 7:55-56)

In every way they will be extraordinary servants of the Lamb, who will be extraordinarily delighted to appear (14:1) and personally escort them home to heaven (14:2)! These are the 144,000 Jewish men who will evangelize and disciple millions of Jews and Gentiles in the first half of the Tribulation (Zech. 8:20-23). There is only one adjective sufficient to describe them: special!

And the written prophecy of their experience has been given born-again Christians worldwide as a special challenge. Why? We, too, have so very many special privileges in this New Testament era. We enjoy a special rebirth, special baptism, special Book of instruction (the Bible), special Spirit teaching and guiding us, special heritage to look up to, special Shepherd to follow, specially gifted undershepherds to lead us, special promises to encourage us, special prophecies to believe in, and a special hope to which we may look forward with great expectation and joy. Then why, yes, I ask why, do we settle for what is ordinary, common, usual, uninspiring, and woefully short of the mark our special Savior set for us and His specially inspired Word so clearly describes?

We have accepted ordinary and substandard far too long. To change our substandard spiritual and moral condition, our leaders have studied special men and women of God found in the Book of Acts, the epistles, and church history and spoken often to us about them. Why? Now it is our turn to become special.

You see, we have a very special Lord appearing very soon to take a very special people to a very special event in heaven, the marriage supper of the Lamb (Matt. 25:10; Rev. 19:7-19). And all of this specialness will begin with a the most special event in human history: the rapture, or sudden translation of the bride church to heaven! Here’s the good news. You can be one of these most special ones who will participate in this most special event – and have the immense joy of helping many others do the same.

Personally, I very much want to become special for my Lord’s delight; and His honor; and for the blessing of the people He so passionately loves, the church. Why don't you join me in this quest for His full approval? He’s calling you:

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Calling you to answer His call,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES