How lax I have become in holy duties, dull in hearing
and sad for the experience. This morning I reflect on the times in my life
where life was bubbling over and it felt as if I was turbo charged. What has
changed? The cares of this life have pressed in and looked to suffocate the joy
of my salvation. However as dull as I have felt of late, what God has begun in
my life may have seemed to lose its flame, and yet the flax still smokes.
Although the fig tree did not blossom and there was no fruit on the vine, yet
will I rejoice in my Lord! What is the reason for this? “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good
work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
The beauty of salvation rest on God’s ability to get us home and not
our fickle volatility as men as we at times stumble in the dark when there is
no need to be there. We have been transferred into the kingdom of light. The
Apostle Paul constantly reminds us of this truth. It is obvious that our
wrestling at times looks to doubt this. But there can be no doubt, just as the
Lord Jesus overcame on our behalf for the price that sin required; it cost Him
His life. As great as that achievement was so too will we stand in awe as we
see Him getting everyone that truly believes in Him, home. No true believer
will be left behind. It must hinge on our faith in God to get us home and not
our faith in what this life can give us. Do we serve God for wealth and an
easier lifestyle or do we bow to Him in gratitude for His forgiveness for our
sins? It is not about being first in this life, on the contrary, those who are
first will be last and those who are last will be first. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
(Matthew 19:30)
What then is
His promise to all those who believe? Believe what must be our first question? Or
rather let’s deal with it secondly and let us look firstly at what we must not
believe. It is clear from scripture that there will be those who say they
believe but will not make it to heaven. This is then a warning from the Lord
Jesus; “"Not everyone who says to
me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the
will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty
works in your name?' And then will I declare to
them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'” (Matthew
7:21-23)
Could I be amongst that number, the possibility is real as there will be
those numbered with the workers of lawlessness? What are the warning here?
Those who claim signs and wonders as there proof for salvation; prophesy,
casting out of devils and any other mighty work claims. That must not be our
assurance. Those who make it to heaven must be about the will of the Father. We
must not serve God for the sake of our bellies; “For many, of whom I have often
told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of
Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory
in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (Philippians 3:18-19)
How I love the Bible, Gods Word for our
lives; if we become cocky we are quickly brought to our knees and when we are
almost without hope we are revitalized. How great is our God? Praise the name
of Jesus.
To excuse our sin as if it didn’t matter
would be a grave mistake; we must constantly strive to put our flesh down. I am
so weak in this area, forgive me Father, but help me find the grace to become
better with my resolve. We must not be overly concerned with material wealth
and the goodies this life has to offer. With food and raiment we must be
content.
This then is where we find comfort and
nowhere else; “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to
himself.” (Philippians
3:20-21)
We must have faith towards God and yet we must reflect
soberly on where we stand. We must address the areas on want and find grace to
achieve obedience where we lack it. Our hope and drive must be in the life to
come and not this life…
Signing off
Tyrone
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