After some years of indecision, we have come to believe only the victorious saints will be raised when the Lord returns. The believers who for whatever reason are still living in the adamic nature are not prepared to appear with Christ in that day.

The Christian churches of our time are giving a deplorable testimony to the unsaved. While they talk about "making a decision for Christ" they themselves are living in worldliness, lust, and self-will. There are, of course, notable exceptions—but not enough to give moral guidance to the government of the United States, for instance.

Can't you just imagine the silly, lustful, worldly, self-seeking believers of our day being given a body like that of the Lord Jesus? They would wreck God's universe in short order as they strove for preeminence.

Fortunately for all of us God will not clothe an immature believer with an all-powerful body. He will endow only those who have come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. Otherwise we are in big trouble.

Those who are greatest in the Kingdom are those who have the greatest love. They are servants of all. They have the heart of a child, always looking in loving trust to their Father in Heaven.

They walk continually in the Presence of the Lord Jesus. They look to Him for every detail. Jesus gives them love for an individual. They go to that person and bring the body and blood of Jesus, healing, comfort, wisdom, eternal life. They are the light of the world.

Unlike Peter, they are not wondering who will be the greatest in the Kingdom. They have been converted. They can ride in the front chariot with Jesus or clean up behind the horses in the royal parade.

They can approach their Father in Heaven because there is no guile in them. Also they are not "married" to any thing, circumstance, or person other than Jesus. This is to say, they have no idols. They worship God through Jesus Christ and their heart is pure and childlike.

These are the sons of God, the mountains of fire and Divine Glory, who will judge mankind and the angels. They are so one with the Father and the Son that whoever has them has also the Father and the Son, and whoever has the Father and the Son has them also.

Because Jesus is living in them their very presence brings righteousness, peace, and joy. Nature is set free and begins to sing. Through them the glory of the Lord will fill the earth. The waters of life will cover the dead sea of mankind and the sea and its creatures will live.

The Glory of the Lord will rise on them in the darkest of all nights and the nations will come skipping and dancing to them, bringing sons and daughters for them to love and bless. All nations will go up to Zion to learn of love, joy, peace, righteousness, and the praise of God.

This is the Christ, Head and Body. This is the glorified Church, the new Jerusalem. These are the sons of God for whom the material creation is waiting.

All the ministries and gifts of the Body of Christ will labor until every member of God's elect knows the Lord, from the least to the greatest. Every member must come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to maturity as measured by the full stature of Christ.

Here is the royal priesthood. Here is the precious fruit of the earth for whom the heavenly farmer is waiting.

Many who are last in time will be first in the Kingdom. There is a throne waiting for you. But you cannot be trusted with such glory until you are willing to let the Holy One of Israel have His unhindered way in your life. You must be brought down by Divine judgment until every molecule of your personality has been baptized with fire, has died in Christ and then been raised in Christ.

With such a glorious salvation being held out to us, how can we do other than turn away from this present wicked, malicious world and embrace the Lord God who has called us, given His Son for us, filled us with His Spirit, and now is preparing us for His Kingdom which soon is to come to the earth?

I have made my choice.

How about you? (from The Unity of the Faith)