Included in Him

Once a month a group of us go to the Rescue Mission in the downtown part of our city for a church service.  Three of us lead the music, one gentleman preaches and the other two or three gentlemen come to meet with the men there and offer their support.

When we arrive at the door, we are required to sign in.  Last month, John, the gentleman who preaches, was signing in first.  When someone else motioned toward the book to sign in, the man at the book said, "The rest of you don't need to sign in because you are all included in him," motioning toward John.  Because we were with John, we were accepted to come in on his behalf.  His signature granted us admission.

This picture is so clear throughout Scriptures,  as in the story of Noah.  God told Noah to build an ark and said that He had established a covenant with Noah:


"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife and thy sons' wives with thee."

Those that were with Noah -- as we are with John each month -- were accepted to come into the ark, not because God had established a covenant with them, but because of His covenant with Noah.  They were accepted on Noah's behalf.  Noah was accepted and they got to go along because they were considered part of Noah.

Once we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior and Lord, this is also true of us as well.  We are "found in Him" and because we are found in Him, we are "accepted in the Beloved" according to Scripture. 

When that great day comes for us to stand before our maker, there will be no need for us to plead our case as to why we should be admitted into the realms of Glory. . .we will simply be told that He is enough for our admittance.  The nailprints in His hands and the mark of His Spirit upon our hearts will be more than enough, no other ticket will be needed.

How glorious that as the old hymn declares, "Nothing in my hands I bring, only to Thy cross I cling,"  He has done it all, provided it all, and now waits to usher His children in to a long and glorious eternity.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope 

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, 

and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 

ready to be revealed in the last time."

 I Peter 1: 3-5