Page 29 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

wreath for which we are contending. It requires great focus, aim, sacrifice and discipline to
receive the reward of the firstborn. Yet how many Christians today are running without any
aim or discipline? Most do not perceive that there is a prize to be won, and a high calling
above all other callings to strive toward.
Those who attain to the number of the firstborn will excel all others as the Sun excels
the stars, as a man excels a fish. Perhaps you have not been taught the truth of the
resurrection from the dead. Perhaps you have been lulled to sleep by the vain and errant
prattle of ministers and Bible teachers who proclaim that it is simply enough to confess
Christ that you might go to heaven when you die. Perhaps you have been content to live as
the majority of Christians, enjoying the pursuits and pleasures of the world while declaring
your love for Christ. Do not be deceived. There were eleven tribes out of twelve who were
disqualified for the privilege of being numbered among the firstborn. Only those who paid
the cost were chosen to be holy unto Yahweh, to receive God as their inheritance.

Deuteronomy 10:8-9
At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the
covenant of Yahweh, to stand before Yahweh to serve Him and to bless in
His name until this day. Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance
with his brothers; Yahweh is his inheritance, just as Yahweh your God spoke
to him.)

Everything in this Scripture is a parable of the firstborn from the dead. Levi would
carry the ark of the covenant. This is a type of those who would carry the full and glorious
likeness of Christ. Levi would stand in the presence of Yahweh, while access to His presence
would be restricted to all those who embraced the idolatry of the world.

Ezekiel 44:12-13
Because they ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of
iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have sworn against them," declares
Yahweh God, "that they shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. And they shall
not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy
things, to the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame and their
abominations which they have committed.”

In the day of judgment there will be many of God’s children who will understand that
although they were called to serve as priests before God, because they did not separate
themselves in a pure devotion to God, but were doubleminded, pursuing the same idols of
mammon and worldly success and pleasure as the world, they will not be granted access to
the presence of Yahweh. This is a terrible tragedy, and it is reason enough to strive to attain
to the number of the firstborn. What astounding things must be contained in the type and
shadow of the Law where Yahweh told the tribe of Levi that He would be their inheritance!
In all the ages to come it will be clearly revealed that there is nothing of greater value, glory,
majesty and surpassing excellence, than to have Yahweh as a possession.
The majority of Israel were disqualified from being selected to be God’s priests, His
firstborn. Eleven tribes were not allowed to serve the Tabernacle, or to carry the ark of the
covenant. Only one tribe attained to this honor. This same pattern is revealed in the life of
Jacob’s twelve sons. Reuben was the firstborn of his father. The preeminence should have