When I went into the Marines, I did my basic training, or “Boot
Camp,” at Parris Island; a lovely little island off the
coast of South Carolina. Of
course I say this with much sarcasm; but I digress.
One of the first things we were issued was a name stamp. It came
in this little metal container that had a stamp, ink pad, and little rubber
letters and punctuation marks that you tore off and attached to the stamp so
you could mark everything you now owned (which wasn’t much). You stamped your
cammies (camouflage uniforms), your boots, socks and skivvies (underwear). There
was even a proper way to fold your uniform items so that if anyone opened your
footlocker, they would see your “stuff” with your name staring back at them. Having
your items clearly marked this way would insure no-one could steal your stuff
or that it could get mixed up with someone else’s in the laundry.
Mine read: “SMITH K. H.”
While I was in the Philippines,
some of the guys had uniforms to come up missing. We had “house boys” (odd name
because they were all men older than us) that we paid to wash our uniforms and
help do some of the things we didn’t have time to do. It was protested that the
house boys were stealing the uniforms to sell on the black market. Our First
Sgt. Vehemently denied that this was the case but a few months later, one of
the platoon commanders was in a city several miles away and browsing an open
market. He was looking at some uniforms they had on a table and low and behold,
there was the name of one of his troops, stamped right in the collar where you
couldn’t miss it. This lost piece of clothing, so far from home, was found. There
was no arguing the rightful owner.
Who’s stamp is on you?
Whether you know it or not, there is a stamp on you. You
either belong to Jesus Christ or the devil.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit
of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” –Eph. 4:30
“And I saw thrones, and
they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the
souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the
word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received
his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and
reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” –Rev. 20:4
Then a third angel followed them,
saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and
receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of
the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His
indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of
the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends
forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and
his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” -Rev. 14:9-11
If you have not received Jesus as your personal Lord and
Savior, you have the stamp of Satan on you. Why not receive the Lord Jesus and
receive His stamp of ownership today? Once you have His stamp, it can never be
washed away. No one can pluck you out of His hand.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and
no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My
Father are one.” –John 10:27-30
I am praying that you would make this choice if you have not
already done so.
God bless~
