I was at a church meeting, very informal, and at the end of it, people get to ask questions at the end. One question a young man was about his tattoos. He was so worried that he might not be acceptable to Jesus because he had been involved in the occult and had the ink to prove it.
Poor thing! Okay! So about tattoos….you really shouldn’t get them as it says in Leviticus 19 verse 28 ‘You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.” This passage, taken in context with surrounding verses say pretty expressly not to get tattoos based on paganism.
Does this mean you’re not acceptable to Jesus? Far from it! The first thing that popped into my mind was the story where Jesus cured the servant of a Roman centurion. It’s in Luke Chapter 7, verses 1- 10: After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant[a] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion[b] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am 9 not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Here’s the thing about Centurions. Roman soldiers were made to take a mark, a tattoo SPQR, which stood for “The Senate and The People of Rome” (Senātus Populusque Rōmānus). Which means their total loyalty was upon the state and that was their highest calling. In other words they deified, or idolized, if you will, their government.
Yet Jesus paid the highest compliment to the Centurion, and clearly was not bothered by his tattoo! This Roman leader recognized Jesus for who he was and was very humble before him, knowing he was “not worthy”….are any of us? So don’t worry about a little ink. If you’ve made a decision for Jesus to be your savior, and establish him as part of your life everyday…talking with Him, reading His bible, even while driving or taking a walk, you are saved, period.
The mark you DO have to think twice about is the hideous 666. NEVER, EVER, EVER, TAKE THAT MARK!!! That’s the governmental number you want nothing to do with. If you take that mark you will NEVER end up in heaven. It’s spoken of in Revelation 13 verses 16 – 18
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
More follows in Revelation 14 9-119 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
Raid dumpsters if you have to, but you will have no chance to avoid the very worst if you take that one world government mark. Avoid it all all cost.
May the deepest peace of God and His everlasting mercy and deep love be with you.
blessedartthou 