It is impossible that any self-willed person can participate in the first resurrection. A self-seeking individual, whether or not he or she professes Christ, is a menace to the kingdom of Christ and God and cannot in any manner be entrusted with the power and authority of the first resurrection from the dead.

How, then, can we make the transition from King Self to King Jesus?

God has a thoroughly effective solution to the problem of King Self. It is the cross.

"I" must be crucified. The prisons, embarrassments, sufferings, perplexities, delayed answers, frustrating circumstances that harass us continually are God's method of dethroning Self and enthroning Christ.

The Christian who would avoid suffering, who "escapes" every time the Lord puts him in "prison," is preventing his own resurrection. There is no other way. Either we take up our cross and follow our Lord and Master or else we lose the first resurrection from the dead.

There will be no exceptions. We must "lose" our life so Christ can live in us. Christ, and only Christ, inherits the Kingdom of God. When we insist on "serving" God according to our own desires, King Self remains on the throne of our personality.

The continued reign of King Self rules out all possibility of our arriving at the first resurrection from the dead.

Many are called but few are chosen. You have been called to the Kingdom of God. Whether you attain the ranks of the chosen depends on you. If you serve Christ only as long as you are comfortable, as long as your discipleship costs you nothing, you will not be chosen. Unless you make seeking Christ the focus of your life, forsaking all else that you might please Him in all matters, you will not be a part of the first resurrection.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:4,5)

What type of person will participate in the first resurrection?

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

Are you laying aside all else in order that you may attain the first resurrection?

Each day of the life of the disciple presents a challenge to his faith. Ordinarily he is able through the Spirit, without too much self-denial, to lay down his life and allow Christ to triumph in the situation.

However, on a few occasions a supreme sacrifice is called for, such as in the case of Abraham and Isaac. Only God's conquerors, those who have their heart set on the throne, will make that sacrifice.

Will you be one of those who, by loving not your life to the death, will help pin Satan's shoulders to the mat and bring about the redemption of the creation?

Maybe you are there now. Don't quit. You may never get a similar opportunity in all eternity to show your love for God.

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection [Greek: out-resurrection] of the dead. (Philippians 3:11) (from Kingdom Concepts)