Marked

Reading again from Ezekiel, the Word talks about a vision the prophet had where six "men" came from the north gate of the temple.  One of them had a writing kit on his side with which he was to identify the faithful: “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it" (9:4).

This is similar to what John saw and recorded in the Book of  Revelation, where those who gave in to the Beast were made "to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads" (13:16).  The difference being that in Ezekiel's vision, it was the righteous who were marked and in John's it was the unrighteous.

So, why the good marked in one occasion and the bad marked in another?  The answer is that everyone is marked on their forehead.  Everyone is clearly identified before the Lord as to whom he or she belongs.  The Lord knows his people.  As Jesus puts it, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (Jn 10:14)

So how does the Lord know his sheep or identify his people?  What mark is placed on us?  The actual identifier is not a mark per se but rather that we are marked, not by religious symbols or by a name over a church door or a certain way of dressing, we are marked by how we respond to the Lord's call: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (Jn 10:27).

Our marking, our distinction as Children of God, is clearly seen according to our walk with the Lord. If we are his, we are his disciples, his followers.  Our lives will therefore, clearly resemble His.  We will be kind and loving.  We will hunger for God's Word.  We will separate ourselves from the sinful living of the world around us without passing judgment upon them.  We will be listening to the words of our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and we will be following in his steps.

Being a Christian is not a matter of just believing in God, "even the demons believe and shudder" (Js 2:19).  Those who belong to God "show their faith by by they do" (Js 2:18), living out their faith daily - they don't just believe that God is, they believe God is to be trusted and obeyed.  Just like the words of the old gospel hymn, "Trust and obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."  Jus' Say'n.