Page 27 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

the sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, lest
they bear sin and die. Only the Levites shall perform the service of the
tent of meeting...”

Understand then that this is a parable of things to come. In the plan of Yahweh He has
determined that there should be a firstfruit group of saints to enter into the glory of
resurrected life in Christ. The portion of those who attain to the first resurrection will far
exceed the glory of those who follow. Those who attain to the first resurrection will excel all
others in privilege, power, authority, honor, riches, and glory.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over
these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of
Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

In this verse we can discern a relationship between the right of the firstborn and the
significance of the first resurrection. Levi became a substitute company for all of the
firstborn males of Israel. They were “priests of God.” Those who attain to the first
resurrection are accorded a similar honor, albeit on a tremendously magnified scale. It is
my desire to show you the surpassing excellence of attaining to the number of the firstborn
that I might provoke some to jealousy, inciting them to pursue the attainment of this elite
company. The apostle Paul spoke of his own earnest yearning to attain to this group.

Philippians 3:10-14
To get to know him, and the power of his resurrection and fellowship of his
sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death, - If by any means I may
advance to the earlier resurrection, which is from among the dead: Not
that I have, already, received, or have, already, reached perfection, but I am pressing
on - if I may even lay hold of that for which I have also been laid hold of by Christ
Jesus: - Brethren! I, as to myself, reckon that I have, not yet, laid hold; one thing,
however, - the things behind, forgetting, and, unto the things before, eagerly
reaching out, With the goal in view, I press on for the prize of the upward calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
[Rotherham Emphasized Bible]

Note the fervent pursuit of the high calling of God in Christ Yahshua! Paul understood
that there is a premier resurrection from the dead. There is a place of attainment in the
resurrection where one is granted a closer abiding in the presence of the Father. There is
a special reward for those who are numbered among the firstborn, and Paul earnestly
contended for the prize. He buffeted his body and kept it under subjection that he might not
be disqualified. He ran the race as one who was not without aim, for he knew what awaited
those who crossed the finish line first. Paul applied all diligence, all discipline, all focus and
determined effort, in the pursuit of attaining to the number of the firstborn from the dead.
If you and I have any inkling of what awaits the firstborn we would also be gripped by
the pursuit of this high calling.