The Other Mark

"And the LORD said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over the abominations that are done within it.'" -Ezekiel 9:4

Ezekiel's job to proclaim the God-given perspective to the Israelites was not an easy gig. In Ezekiel 9 we read about the judgment of people who were defiling the temple and disgracing the city of God. But what fascinates me is the mark God put on the faithful: the other mark.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on the mark of the beast (MOB) in Revelation. If I held Bible studies or public gospel meetings and advertise about the mark of the beast meeting I am guaranteed at least a few attendees. Some worry the MOB is an electronic chip or a tattoo or something worse. And just about everyone is worried about the MOB and few wonder about an alternative o his mark.

God is in the business of marking people, too. In Ezekiel He requires the marking of those who have been discouraged, distraught and downtrodden by the defiling of Jerusalem. The Hebrew letter 'tau' used as the marker was shaped like a cross in Ezekiel's day. It is also the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet representing the last, or remaining, people of God.

When we experience God in our lives He develops a strong appreciation for His house and His holy things. The more we surrender to Him the greater. we care if people disgrace God, His name, His creation, His people and even His laws. Our response is a telling marker of where we stand with God and eventually will lead to our being marked.

Give your mind, heart, wallet, family, career, etc, to God and let Him
mark you with the victorious cross. If you seek His mark you will never have to worry about receiving the other mark.