March 3: THE REMNANT DESCRIBED (part 2)
And they overcame [the accuser of the brethren] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11
God’s faithful remnant will be most vehemently accused. Many of these accusations before God will be true, because sin gives the devil what he wants: a rightful claim upon us. He will not miss an opportunity to accuse God’s people of wrongdoing. This is why the letters to the churches from Jesus (chapters 2&3 of Revelation) make reference to shortcomings, and end with encouragements to overcome.
Because He willingly took all of the punishment for our sin upon Himself, sin’s eternal cost is paid in full by the spilled blood of the Lamb. We are to be engaged in a daily relationship with Him, confessing our sins each day and receiving His forgiveness and cleansing. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We need to give our failures to Him daily! The devil knows this, which is exactly why the Holy Spirit told Daniel to warn us that the antichrist would do everything in his power to oppose the daily (Daniel 8:12). If he can drive a wedge between the Savior and His followers, he will do it.
During the original Passover, God’s people were instructed to put the blood of the sacrificed lamb over the door lintel where the family name was carved. By obliterating their own name, they were showing their faith in the one true God (see Exodus 12:7,13). Egyptian culture had conditioned them to think that their name needed to be visible in order to be recognized and protected by the “gods of Egypt”. But in obeying divine instructions, God’s people shifted their allegiance to the True God, and in so doing, conveyed the message that it is possible to be saved from death.
Likewise, the remnant at the end of time will have a testimony of complete trust in the Savior and the atoning sacrifice of His own blood. Because the word of their testimony will have two opposite effects—some will be won to Christ while others will be angered by it—this testimony must be consistent regardless of the reactions of others.
They did not love their lives to the death. By far, the most challenging overcoming to be done is that of self. Our faith must be so deeply rooted in the truths of God’s word that the threat of death—even one that involves torture—will not shake our faith. Our reliance upon God’s grace must include a confidence that He will supply it as it is needed—even in circumstances that are beyond horrendous. All glory to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5).