There is a passage in the last chapter of the Bible that has always struck me as powerful truth. You know that Revelation is a long, mysterious vision given to the Apostle John. By the time we get to Revelation 22, John has just finished sharing the vision he saw. Then he receives what I call “closing remarks” from Jesus to pass on to all generations who would read and seek to understand what John had seen and heard. In these final paragraphs, John records this: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”- Revelation 22:10-11
Every time I read this passage my mind is flooded with the truths what these simple sentences tell us. For starters, I can honestly tell you that if the list ended at “…let those who do right continue to do right,” I would not be writing this article for you. No, this passage would be nothing more than conventional human wisdom to me: There are those who do wrong, and there are those who are worse yet, being vile when they do wrong. And finally, there are those who do right. If that is how the verse ended, then I would think that “those who do right” was a reference to Christians everywhere. But this is not the case.
“Let him who is holy continue to be holy” is the verse that refers to Christians. Of course! The word holy means “set apart for God” and “set apart from the world.” We have been changed—born again—sanctified and set free from sin. We have been saved by grace, through the gift of faith.
The presence of “him who is holy” draws “him who does right” into question. Obviously, the Lord intends to make a distinction here. What is the difference between these two individuals? It is simply this: within the human race, there will be those who do wrong, those who are vile, and those who do right. But the truth of the matter is this: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23. And this: “There is no one righteous, not even one…there is no one who does good, not even one…” Romans 3:10, 12
Those who do right are those who keep the law. They are the law abiding “good citizens” among us. But their goodness, as compared to the rest of society, does not bring them salvation. They fall just as short of God’s glory as the wrong-doer. Salvation can only come through the work of God, through the gift of faith in the death and resurrection His Son Jesus. When faith comes, they join those whom God calls “holy.”
Now, the words, “Let him…” are repeated four times in this passage. “Let him who does wrong, continue to do wrong.” This too points to a powerful truth about the work of God. We Christians must trust in Him. We are not going to change people. Nor are we here to do so. Let people do what they are going to do. Our job is to seek the Lord in this place, to abide in the Presence of His Holy Spirit, and to study His word. When we concern ourselves with Him instead of with them, we become vessels through which He works. Then amazing things happen. We love people because He first loved us. We forgive, just as He forgave us, and we do things that both our left and right hands are unaware of. Then it happens: someone hears the Gospel, faith comes, and they are saved. It is the only way anyone leaves the first group of three to become holy
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