The Assembly of the Firstborn

"But you came to the mountain of Zion ... of the congregation of the first-born ..." (Hebrews 12: 22-23).

"The assembly of the first-born" is a gathering of people who have been made righteous and perfect by God.

Who was the "firstborn" in Israel that we hear of in the Old Testament ? It was the oldest boy who was destined to receive the inheritance of his father. Then all that the father had accumulated, all the goods of his kingdom, were inherited by the firstborn.

And what do we see in this passage of Scripture ? You and I are firstborn in the assembly of God. Is not that good news ? We are all called by God and He says : "I have put in you all that is in My kingdom. All the wealth. All the glory. All the majesty."

Is there something too difficult for the Lord ? Is there a big problem in your life ? Is there a mountain too high that God can not take away ? Is there anything that can hold His hand, that He can not heal your marriage ? That He can not heal your mind ? So that He can not rid you of your old habits of sin ? So that He can not turn a desperate heart into a heart full of joy, euphoria and adoration ?

All the resources of Heaven are in the hands of God and He says : "Oh, look ! I need a firstborn son. I need a first-born girl ! Because I want to convey all these wonderful things to My children."

And praise be to God ! He transmitted them to you and me! We have it all. Peter says that He has given us - the verb is conjugated to the past - "all that contributes to life and piety, by means of the knowledge of him who has called us through his own glory and through his virtue." (2 Peter 1: 3). Can you say amen to that ?

Gary Wilkerson