THE NEW SONG

THE NEW SONG

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the MOUNT SION, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: AND THEY SUNG AS IT WERE A NEW SONG BEFORE THE THRONE, AND BEFORE THE FOUR BEASTS, AND THE ELDERS: AND NO MAN COULD LEARN THAT SONG BUT THE HUNDRED [AND] FORTY [AND] FOUR THOUSAND, WHICH WERE REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH. These are they which were not defiled with WOMEN; for they are VIRGINS. These are they which FOLLOW THE LAMB WHITHERSOEVER HE GOETH. These were REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN, [being] the FIRSTFRUITS UNTO GOD and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Many years ago, an elderly man in the Church we were serving, called our attention to this thought of the NEW SONG. He explained it as being symbolic language for a MANNER OF LIFE. He said that we all know that to be among the FIRSTFRUITS COMPANY is a prize which we all should be striving for. If we are successful in our efforts, we will be bountifully rewarded by the Lord. We will receive the ABILITY to LEARN and LIVE the LIFESTYLE that COMPLETELY PLEASES GOD.

THAT IS THE NEW SONG which no one else can learn except those who have successfully pleased God (met His requirements for our lives in the time which we live). This does not require perfection, per se, but must correspond to what God knows we are capable of doing, and the times in which we live. Requirements for people living today are probably much more stringent than for people living in the dark ages. But, if there were those who pleased God in those difficult times (and there were many who did), we would certainly be guilty of slothful living if we were to fail today. We have more opportunities to purify our lives today than any people in history. We would be inexcusable if we failed. Yet, multitudes of people who pass as Christians today are failing miserably.

For those of us who are "Striving for the Masteries", there are some guidelines in the scriptures to help us know the direction we should go. We are not left entirely in the dark without a compass and chart to guide us. Psalms 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.

I found an excellent recipe for better living in Deut chapter 4 several years ago. Moses was giving final instructions to the Children of Israel before he was commanded to go and die. Let's go read them. Deuteronomy 4:1-10 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do [them], that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal-peor: for all the men that followed Baal-peor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God [are] alive every one of you this day. Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do [them]; for this [is] your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [is] a wise and understanding people. For what nation [is there so] great, who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD our God [is] in all [things that] we call upon him [for]? And what nation [is there so] great, that hath statutes and judgments [so] righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; [Specially] the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and [that] they may teach their children.

While this scripture was dealing with the people of Israel under the Old Covenant, the ROOT PRINCIPLE of what Moses said is still applicable today. Moses referred to Baal-peor and the catastrophe which followed, but maybe you don't know about that. You can read about it in Num 25, but briefly-- there was a festival in Moab, suggested by the errant prophet Balaam, which was widely publicized among the people of Israel, in which Moabitish women made themselves readily available to Israelite men. It was the style in Moab, (like the world today) but not in Israel, though many of those men broke away and joined in the adulterous revelry. It was against the commandments of the Lord then, as much as it is today. But they dared to do it. It also cost 24,000 of them their lives, for God's judgments were much more swift then than they are today. But no more sure.

Moses told the people that the statutes and judgments of the Lord were WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING which had set them apart from the other nations round about. It had also made the nation of Israel the envy of other nations. It had also made them GREAT in the eyes of their neighbors.

Striving to follow the PRINCIPLES OF GOD will have the same effect on ANY INDIVIDUAL today who sets out on such a course of endeavor. WE WILL ALWAYS FALL SHORT, for we are but human beings, and God knows that. BUT WE WILL MAKE ZERO PROGRESS IF WE DO NOT TRY.

If our efforts meet God's requirements for OUR LIVES, we will be counted worthy to be among those who STAND WITH THE "LAMB" ON Mt. Sion, and SING THE NEW SONG. For any one to be elevated to that position will be an ACT OF GOD. All we can do is try to become a candidate for that choosing.