By Jim Golden (Revised March 2010)

"...They follow the Lamb wherever he goes..."

Revelation 14: 4b NIV

Some time ago, I was part of a prayer group with men and women from all lifestyles.  Many different denominational upbringings were there.  Yet all these lovely people had one important thing in common—their deep, almost insatiable hunger for the precious Lamb of God.  These men and woman were willing to forsake all to follow the Lamb.  When I speak of forsaking all, I am speaking of not only the bad things but the "good" things as well.  Paul put it this way.  "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."  During one of our meetings, I had a vision.  In my vision I saw a mountain that was high and very much like a tower.  The pinnacle was shielded from view, but I instinctively knew that the throne of God was there.  Roads that encircled it, cutting the mountain into terraces from its massive base to its narrowing pinnacle, divided this mountain.  At first glance, it appeared that there was only one road spiraling up to the top.

Upon closer inspection, I could see that there were many individual roads, like bands encircling the great mountain.  As I searched for the secret of how to reach the top, suddenly I saw a nearly overgrown stairway that led straight up the face of the mountain linking all the individual roads together.  The individual roads boasted signs like tradition, intercessory prayer, evangelism, and the restoration of the kingdom of God.  However, at every crossroads where one of these roads intersected the stairway, there was also a sign pointing to the stairway that led to the top.  It read DEVOTION TO THE LAMB.  Then I heard a voice speaking that was gentle yet so piercing that it went through me like a sword, and I began to weep.  The voice told me that from time to time I had found the stairway that led straight to the throne of God.  However, because of what seemed to be a severe ascent I would often get off onto one of the roads and walk around the mountain.  I needed to learn what Paul meant when he said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  

These roads seemed like good endeavors yet, they always led away from the stairway.  At this point in my life, I was on one of the roads called intercessory prayer.  Although it was closer to the top of the mountain than roads I had previously taken, I still had "the cart before the horse".  The odds may favor the prayer warrior knowing Jesus intimately and being devoted to him, but it is still possible to miss the mark.  As the voice called from the top of the mountain, I felt my heart being drawn.  It said repeatedly, "Come Up Here!"  Until I heard the voice, I was not aware of how lost or hungry and thirsty I had become.

As I got closer to the stairway, a renewed sense of purpose and destiny gripped me. I felt like someone recovering from amnesia.  Suddenly I remembered the reason I was alive.  Suddenly I remembered my "betrothal to Jesus".  As I started back up the stairway the sense of extreme well-being invaded me.  I noticed that on the face of each step something was written.  I could not read the writing on the steps others were standing on, but I saw light begin to flow up through the tread of the step into the soles of their feet until it illuminated their entire body.  As my foot touched each step I realized an area of great need in my life was being met.  The Lamb is in the "business" of restoring our souls.  To me he has been a friend to the friendless, a Father to the fatherless, the Lover of the unlovely and the One who accepts me unconditionally.  When I shared this with the group, an attitude of urgency enshrouded us.  We saw how subtle and easy it is to leave the path of pure and simple devotion to God.  Almost with one voice, we sought forgiveness and repentance.  Then the others began to feel the same sense of unimaginable well-being I had experienced.   We instinctively knew that none of these roads was bad.  Jesus walked them all.  The difference between his disciples, and us was that they walked the roads following the Lamb.

"They follow the Lamb wherever he goes" is speaking about the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation chapter 14, but I do not believe it is limited to them alone.  Every "thing" we do must spring out of our devotion to Christ.  If we are not living in a state of devotion to Him, it is the same as forsaking him.  "God has said, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5 NIV)  His devotion to us is steadfast and unshakable.  Ours on the other hand is not so reliable!  Our whole life, as Christians, is to be a life of devotion to Jesus Christ.  It is time we get back on the stairway and off the roads until the Lord takes us by the hand and says come follow me!

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