Two of my favorite passages of Scripture occur in Revelation.  The first of my favorites is Revelation 5.  In it, we see a fascinating picture of the redeemed gathered around the throne, worshipping the Lamb who was slain:

The Scroll and the Lamb

¹Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, ⁴and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”⁶And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. ⁸And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
¹⁰and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

¹¹Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹²saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” ¹³And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” ¹⁴And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

The scroll which no one can open.  No one is qualified.  No one has the right. No one, save Christ.  He purchased His people by his blood…all done for the glory of the Father.  A promised reign is included, as if being saved from God’s wrath weren’t enough.

This is all so silly you may find yourself thinking.  Even if this stuff IS true, I won’t be around to see it.  How does this help me have my best life now?

Glad you asked.

First, sin is everywhere…for you and for me.  You owe God big time for treason…for sins in thought, word and deed.  So do I…I owe a lot.  Call me “Chief of Sinners;” it’s an apt name.

Second, Christ died to save sinners.  He didn’t just “give option” to those people…he purchased them.  So if you’re Christ’s, you’re His for the duration.

Third, this frees you to serve him when you repent and believe the good news (“the Gospel”): that Christ died in your place.

So whether you are a Christian or not, the call is the same: repent and believe.