A Deeper Dive Into the Book of Revelation - Part 40
Anyone who pursues the high calling of God will eventually be required to lay down their reputation.
Jesus is our model. We are called to follow in His footsteps.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.”—Luke 6:40 (NKJV)
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV)
During the time of His ministry, Jesus was called a son of fornication (John 8:41), a glutton, a drunkard, a companion of tax-collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34), and a Samaritan (John 8:48). People falsely accused him of having a devil (John 7:20, John 8:48, and John 8:52); of misleading people; of advising people not to pay their taxes (Luke 23:2).
And yet, with all of the criticisms and lies that were hurled against Him constantly, Jesus did not give His time and energy to defending Himself. He did nothing to protect His reputation. He had already laid His reputation down, placing it in the hands of His Father; trusting His Father completely for the outcome.
“When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly.”—1 Peter 2:23 (AMPC)
In Ruth chapter 3, we see Ruth laying down her reputation, putting respectability aside, when she laid down at the feet of Boaz in the threshing floor. Ruth lay all night at the feet of Boaz. This was an unmarried woman laying down all night at the feet of a man she was not married to. This is not a respectable way for a young woman to behave. But Ruth was willing to sacrifice respectability in order to gain something much greater.
In response to Ruth’s act of self-sacrifice, Boaz covered Ruth in more ways than one.
In the morning, Boaz said to those around him, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor [last night].” In doing this, Boaz protected Ruth from undue scorn, derision, gossip, and shame.
This is the same thing that Noah’s two sons did for him when he was drunk in his tent. Rather than make their father the object of unnecessary shame, dishonor, and ridicule, Shem and Japheth walked backward into Noah’s tent and covered their father in Genesis 9:23.
In contrast, We see another kinsman redeemer in Ruth chapter 4 who was more closely related to Ruth than Boaz was. He had the right to marry Ruth, but he refused to marry her. His excuse was that if he married Ruth, it would put his own inheritance at risk. He may have been unwilling to risk soiling his reputation by marrying a woman from Moab.
“The closest relative (redeemer) said, ‘I cannot redeem it for myself, because [by marrying a Moabitess] I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption (purchase) yourself, because I cannot redeem it.’”—Ruth 4:6 (AMP)
Not willing to risk soiling his reputation, this kinsman redeemer missed out on being included in the line of succession to the Lord Jesus Christ. Ironically, after trying to protect and preserve his reputation, this man has been forgotten. He is not even named in Scripture.
Every sincere disciple of Jesus Christ will eventually have to choose between respectability and the pursuit of the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus. Every disciple will need to lay down their reputation and trust God with the outcome.
Choosing the Higher Call of God Over Respectability
William Branham came to a major point of decision in the early days of his ministry. He felt God calling him to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to people who were looked down on by many in the respectable Christian churches of his day. Branham would have to lay his own reputation down, disregarding what people might say about him if he was going to follow God’s call to minister among these people.
He faced intense backlash after sharing his plans with his mother-in-law.
Mrs. Brumbach frowned. “William, I’ll give you to understand that I’ll never give my daughter permission to go out with a bunch of holy-roller trash like that.”
“Oh! But, Mrs. Brumbach, this is the happiest bunch of people in the world. They’re not ashamed of their religion. I like that.”
“Trash,” she insisted, “they’re are nothing but trash! Don’t you realize that those are just people that other churches have kicked out? I’ll never give you permission to drag my daughter out amongst backwash like that. The very idea!”
“But, Mrs. Brumbach, down in my heart, I feel that the Lord wants me to go with them people.”
“Trash,” she repeated. “William, why don’t you stick with your church until you get it paid for; then get yourself a parsonage and act like somebody that has some sense. Do you think I could be happy knowing that you were dragging my daughter across the country — today she eats, and tomorrow she doesn’t; never having a change of clothes or a decent dress to wear?”
“Mrs. Brumbach, this isn’t a dress proposition. The thing of it is, I feel that God wants me to do it.”
“No, indeed, never will I permit my daughter to go out into such trash as that.” Here, Mrs. Brumbach turned and glared accusingly at Hope. “And if she does go, her mother will go to her grave with a broken heart.”
Hope gasped. “Mother, do you mean that?”
“That’s just what I mean.”
Hope cried. Bill put his arm around her. “But, Mrs. Brumbach, she’s my wife.”
“But she’s my daughter!”
Bill said, “Yes, ma’am.” He stood up and walked off the porch toward the car. (Jorgensen, p.142-143)
At first, Bill Branham was swayed by this intense backlash to his intention to follow God’s calling, but after he repented and responded whole-heartedly to the call of God, his ministry changed the world and the Church, becoming possibly the most powerful healing and miracle ministry seen on earth since the time of Christ.
The Shulamite maiden also responded to the call of her Bridegroom in the Song of Solomon, but as she sought her beloved Bridegroom, the very ones who should have protected her attacked her instead, removing her covering, treating her shamefully without good cause, and stripping her of respectability.
“The watchmen who go about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took my veil and my mantle from me.”—Song of Solomon 5:7 (AMPC)
Every sincere disciple who seeks to follow the higher calling of God may face these kinds of shameful treatments and rejections, even from the very people who should be protecting and supporting us. In spite of such vicious, unjust treatment, God calls us to lay down our own reputations in order to pick up our crosses and follow our Lord wherever He leads.
I Die Daily
Paul wrote that he dies daily.
“[I assure you] by the pride which I have in you in [your fellowship and union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily [I face death every day and die to self].”—1 Corinthians 15:31 (AMPC)
It can be very helpful to make a daily practice of laying our lives and our reputations down on an unseen altar, giving them to God, and trusting God for the just outcome.
If we will lay our reputations down, no longer feeling like we must be responsible to defend ourselves against the lies, slanders, and misunderstandings that are hurled against us, then we will not be so upset when these attacks come, and we can then finally focus on loving our enemies and doing what Jesus called us to do.
But it doesn’t stop there.
God invites each of us to make an exchange. God invites us to exchange our reputation for His reputation. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, making Him known as the God of Love that He truly is to a world that desperately needs Him.
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches”—Proverbs 22:1 (NKJV)
There is no finer name to champion than the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
**References: **
Cummins, D. (2021). I Am Ruth Thy Handmaid. Capitol Worship.
Jorgensen, O. (2019). Supernatural: The Life of William Branham (Vol. 1). Supernatural Christian Books.
