Immortalized

“These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.” (Nu 13:16 AV)

A horrible thought crossed my mind as I read through all the names of those who spied out the land.  Twelve spies were sent into Canaan.  Their responsibility was to get a lay of the land in preparation of an invasion.  Their job was not to bring a report to determine the invasion.  God has already commanded them to invade.  It was their job as to advise a plan.  It was the job of the twelve to bring back news of the blessings that awaited them once God gave the land.  It was their job to encourage the nation.  Ten of the twelve spies brought back an evil report.  They told the nation how it was too large.  Not even God could deliver it into their hands.  What struck me was that ten of the twelve spies are not eternally immortalized in the pages of the word of God as men who had no faith in God.  For six millennia, the human race has been reading their names and associating cowardice to them.  For all of eternity, these ten names will be known as those who lacked faith in an all-powerful God.  It made me think if we face the same possibility.  At least in principle.

The N.T. saint will be given a white robe of righteousness.  This is our wedding robe.  When we are wed to our Savior, Jesus Christ, it is that white robe of righteousness, provided by the groom, that we will present ourselves to our Savior.  There is also gold, silver, and precious stones awarded for service and dedication to our earthly service for Jesus.  Some speculate these are used to adorn the white robe of righteousness.  This was an old-world oriental custom.  The groom would provide for his bride a white dress for the wedding.  She would have saved up treasures to adorn the dress given to her.  Her goal was to show her love and lifelong dedication to her groom by the gown she wore.  The gown would reflect her faith that someday, God would provide a husband.  This may picture the events of heaven.

I am grateful that I live in a time when my name will never be mentioned in the pages of the word of God.  It doesn’t matter who is listed.  No one is mentioned without some type of flaw included.  Even Paul had his issues.  But being one of the ten who God rejected and who died in the wilderness because they were chicken would be a hard thing to live with for all of eternity.  But then there is the wedding gown.  One wonders what could have been but never was.  Perhaps our gown will be plain and white with no gold, silver, or precious stones.  I don’t image we will have to live with shame for all of eternity.  But I cannot help but think that at the judgment seat of Christ, there might be a few tears shed when we realize what we could have had but failed to earn.  Glory is for rest and peace.  We will not be tormented with the failures of this life.  All will be forgiven.  All will be forgotten.  Praise the LORD.  It is that initial judgment that might sting a bit.  This passage brought thoughts of potential gains that I have lost.  If we could do it all again, there would be different choices.  That is for sure.  The future does not have to be as the past.  There is still opportunity.  There are still lands to spy out.  There are still battles to be fought and gains to be had.  All for Jesus, all for Jesus!